Retrospective Evaluation of Complications in Patients Who Underwent Breast Reduction Surgery without Drains: No Drain, No Pain!

Abstract

Aim: In women, breast reduction surgery is performed due to macromastia, i.e., excessive breast size, regardless of age, and is the most effective method for eliminating problems such as dermatitis and malodor under breasts, as well as pain in the musculoskeletal system. Breast reduction surgery is a frequently performed and relatively safe procedure to defer above mentioned symptoms of patients. To contribute the establishment of standards that will ensure maximum patient comfort and minimum complications risk in the follow-up of breast reduction surgery is the main output of this study. For that reason, complications and their associations in this patient group has been compared with the previous studies. Material and Methods: Demographic and surgical record of all women who underwent bilateral breast reduction surgery without liposuction performed by the same surgeon without the use of drains were evaluated retrospectively. Approval of the local ethics committee has been received prior of the study (decision number 10/24). Hence, types of complications and their percentages, statistics related to their age and patients’ surgical measurements has been analyzed statistically. Results: Breast reduction surgery was performed with the superomedial pedicle technique in 22 of the patients and the free nipple graft technique in 9. Early complications were seen in three (1.82%) of the total of 62 breasts that were operated on. There was no statistical correlation between the amount of reduction or nipple elevation level with complications. Conclusion: The use of no drains in breast reduction surgery did not increase postoperative complications when compared to literature, and it also provided a more comfortable follow-up process for both the patient and the surgeon.