LONG-TERM RESULTS AND PATIENT SATISFACTION WITH REDUCTION MAMMAPLASTY

Few publications in the past have addressed specifically the effects o f reduction mammaplasty in reducing symptoms associated with macromast ia, and even fewer have surveyed patient satisfaction after reduction mammaplasty. This study investigates long-term results, morbidity, and patient satisfaction after reduction mammaplasty. A comprehensive que stionnaire was sent to 296 patients who underwent reduction mammaplast y at Hamad Medical Corporation during the study period between January 1987 and December 1996. The response rate to the questionnaire was 55 .4% on a single mailing. The charts of responding patients (164 patien ts) were reviewed retrospectively. The mean patient age at the time of surgery was 29.7 years, and the mean preoperative weight was 75.9 kg. Seventy-eight percent of respondents listed the relief of physical sy mptoms of large breasts as their primary motivation for surgery. An av erage of 1,037 g of tissue was resected per breast. Ninety-one percent of subjects realized improvement of symptoms and 65% were asymptomati c. The overall satisfaction rate was 67.6%, whereas 18.4% were dissati sfied and 14% were unsure. Minor complications that did not require fu rther surgery were reported by 29% of subjects. Twenty-seven percent o f respondents would have preferred to have more preoperative discussio ns with the surgeon, and 78% of subjects would recommend breast reduct ion to others.