Vertical Reduction Mammaplasty with Medial Pedicle: A Reliable Method for Improving Breast Shape in Taiwanese Women

Abstract

Background: Reduction mammaplasty for the correction of the pendulous and hypertrophic breasts is an evolving technique that has received much spotlight in literature. Currently the most common procedure remains the inferior pedicle reduction mammaplasty, but an increasing number of authors are placing emphasis on the medial or superomedial pedicle. With a growing number of female patients in Taiwan seeking breast reduction due to heavy, ptotic breasts, we find that there is a lack of information in literature regarding vertical reduction mammaplasty with the medial pedicle in oriental women. Aim and Objectives: Through a retrospective review of patients who underwent medial pedicle vertical scar reduction mammaplasty, we report our results and evaluate their outcome. Materials and Methods: Five patients seeking reduction mammaplasty who received vertical scar with medial pedicle reduction at Cathay General Hospital between July 2006 and July 2010 were included in this study. All operations were performed by the two attending surgeon authors. A chart review was conducted and patient demographics, preoperative and postoperative photographs were recorded and evaluated. All complications were documented. Results: The average age was 26.8 years. Average body mass index was 22.95. The mean resection weight per breast was 339.4 g. The average operation time was 244 minutes. One patient had unilateral reduction mammaplasty due to unilateral breast hypertrophy. All four other patients received bilateral reduction mammaplasty. The minimum follow-up period was 2 months. There were no cases of partial or complete nipple loss. One patient had postoperative seroma which resolved spontaneously with compressive dressing. One patient had hypertrophic vertical scars and received intralesional steroid injections (triamcinolone acetonide). Two patients had dog-ears at the inferior portion of the vertical scar during the early follow-up period. Skin contour smoothed out over time and no revisions were done. There were no cases of wound dehiscence, skin necrosis, hematoma, or infection. Conclusion: The vertical scar reduction mammaplasty performed in our series produced aesthetically pleasing breast shape with less scarring than the standard inverted-T or Wise pattern reductions in Taiwanese patients. There were no significant postoperative complications, and on follow-up, patients have more projected breasts without pseudoptosis or bottoming-out. We believe that this technique can be applied for a wide variety of patients to achieve consistent and reliable outcomes.