A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent reduction mammaplasty in our clinic: Evaluation of demographic characteristics, histopathology and patient satisfaction

A Retrospective Analysis of Patients Who Underwent Reduction Mammaplasty in Our Clinic:Evaluation of Demographic Characteristics, Histopathology and Patient Satisfaction Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the demographic characteristics of patients who underwent breast reduction surgery at our clinic, such as age, body mass index, comorbidities, fertility status, education, socioeconomic status, and smoking status; to evaluate the histopathological characteristics of the excised breast tissue and to identify the factors affecting patient satisfaction after surgery. Materials and Methods: The demographic characteristics of 720 patients who underwent reduction mammoplasty at the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Çukurova University, between January 2014 and March 2024 due to breast hypertrophy, and 1,440 specimens sent from the right and left breasts were retrospectively examined histopathologically. Patient satisfaction was assessed in 99 patients selected using the Mersenne Twister number generator system. Results: The mean age of the patients was 40.2±12.9 years (range: 13 to 71). Smoking was detected in 42 (5.8%) of the patients. Additional disease findings were observed in 220 (30.6%) of the patients. The most common additional diseases were HT in 89 (40.4%), DM in 46 (20.9%), and hypothyroidism in 38 (17.2%). The most frequently used surgical techniques were superomedial in 504 (70%), free nipple in 91 (12.6%), and superior pedicle in 57 (7.9%) patients. Due to the hyperalgesic effect of smoking, patients who smoked were found to have higher levels of physical pain before and after surgery. Younger patients were found to have a lower rate of finding themselves and their partners sexually attractive compared to older patients. Conclusion: There has been a significant increase in the number of patients presenting to plastic surgery clinics with symptoms of macromastia. In addition to the patient's aesthetic satisfaction after surgery, there are improvements in physical well-being, such as a reduction in back and neck pain, improvement in complaints of redness, itching, and sweating in the inframammary fold and an increase in sleep quality. It should come as no surprise that incidental breast cancer is increasingly being detected in patients following these procedures. Therefore, it is crucial to follow up on the pathology results of patients who undergo reduction mammoplasty.