BREAST REDUCTION FOR SYMPTOMATIC MACROMASTIA - CAN OBJECTIVE PREDICTORS FOR OPERATIVE SUCCESS BE IDENTIFIED

The purpose of this paper is to assess symptomatic macromastia, the re lief of symptoms by operation, and predictors of symptom relief. The m ethods used have been retrospective chart review and a self-assessment patient questionnaire. 1660-gm reduction. Ninety-three percent report ed a postoperative decrease in symptoms such as shoulder grooves and s houlder, neck, and back pain. Correlation between breast size and sign or symptom severity achieved significance only for the preoperative s ubmammary rash (r = 0.33, p < 0.001). Patients lost an average of 8.9 lb postoperatively and were less overweight (49 versus 40 percent). Ac tivity level increased postoperatively in 63 percent. Postoperative ch est size correlated inversely with activity level (r = 0.35, p < 0.001 ). Thirty-nine percent of patients who took pain medications preoperat ively were able to eliminate these postoperatively. The quantity of ti ssue removed did not correlate with outcome. A model predictive of sym ptom relief could not be developed (total R(2) = 0.03). Reduction mamm aplasty promoted relief of signs and symptoms of macromastia, but a pr edictive model of successful operation could not be developed.