Considering aesthetic surgery? You need to do your research and become an informed consumer.

Home

Search

Article Archive

News Headlines

Resources / Links

Aesthetic Surgery Books

Skin Care Store

Free Newsletter

Breast Reduction: New Study Addresses Women's Concerns

(press release from ASAPS)

This article sponsored by:

NEW!! JUST RELEASED!! FREEZE24/7 with Idebenone Idebenone is the most potent and effective antioxidant for skin available in a cosmeceutical today!!

NEW YORK, NY (October 4, 2004) — Women who undergo breast reduction often seek relief from physical discomfort and also hope to attain a more aesthetic breast shape. More than 147,000 breast reduction surgeries were performed in 2003, an increase of 207 percent since 1997, making breast reduction the fourth most frequently performed plastic surgical procedure among women, according to statistics compiled by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). However, the possibility of numbness or hypersensitivity of the nipple-areola complex (NAC), which includes the nipple and surrounding pigmented skin, may deter some women from having the operation or, if changes in NAC sensation occur, decrease their satisfaction with the results. A new study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal (ASJ) , the peer-reviewed AS APS journal, for the first time precisely quantifies NAC sensation in post-reduction patients. Results confirm that commonly performed breast reduction "pedicle" techniques in which the NAC is repositioned while remaining attached to a tissue flap can preserve normal to near-normal sensation in most cases.

The history of breast reduction goes back as far as the 6th century AD, but it was not until 1931 that the first pedicle technique was reported. Multiple techniques using a pedicle have been developed, including two variations compared in the ASJ study: the medial pedicle and the inferior pedicle techniques. The primary difference between medial and inferior pedicle techniques is the rotational direction of the tissue flap that provides the continuous blood supply to the NAC.

Free nipple transfer is another breast reduction method that predates the pedicle technique and usually is reserved for women requiring very high-volume reduction or those judged to have insufficient blood supply to the NAC. In this technique, the NAC is totally detached and then reattached to the new, smaller breast mound. Although free nipple transfer can help avoid serious complications that might result in loss of the NAC in this select group of patients, its disadvantages include altered sensation or absence of sensation, inability to lactate (breast feed), and hypopigmentation (lightening in color) of the NAC.

Study Methods and Results

The study's authors, associated with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore , compared NAC sensation in 42 women who were divided into 4 groups on the basis of the breast reduction technique performed: medial pedicle (9 patients), inferior pedicle (8 patients), free nipple transfer (8 patients) and a control group of 17 patients. All breast reduction patients had undergone removal of at least 1000 grams of tissue per breast and were at least 6 months post-surgery. NAC sensation was quantified with the use of a special instrument called the Pressure Specified Sensory Device (PSSD), a handheld device with 2 pressure-calibrated, computer-linked sensors. Results were compared considering a variety of factors including the amount of breast tissue removed and the distance of relocation of the NAC. Institutional review board approval was granted for this retrospective study.

There was no significant difference in NAC sensation when women in the medial pedicle group were compared with women in the inferior pedicle group. Both groups generally showed preservation of normal to near-normal sensation, although women in the medial pedicle group, on average, had larger breast reductions. As expected, women who had undergone free nipple transfer had significantly less NAC sensation than women in either of the pedicle groups, even though there was no significant difference between the free nipple and medial pedicle groups in terms of the amount of breast tissue removed. It was this finding that led the authors to conclude that the medial pedicle technique can more often be used for large-volume breast reduction to optimize sensation of the NAC.

"Breast reduction with a medial pedicle technique was originally designed as an alternative to free nipple grafting, and we believe that it can be used more frequently in large-volume reductions," says plastic surgeon Navin Singh , MD , one of the study's five co-authors. "The medial tissue flap provides an excellent blood supply and also avoids disruption of the nerves that control sensation in the NAC. Prior studies demonstrated that, using the medial pedicle technique, the viability and sensation of the NAC was retained in 98 percent of women requiring large reductions in their breast volume, and our study is generally consistent with this finding." However, Dr. Singh says no one can guarantee that NAC sensation will be preserved in all cases. In addition, he emphasizes that the specific surgical technique chosen remains a matter of the plastic surgeon's judgment and must be based on an evaluation of individual patient factors.

Breast reduction is an evolving area of plastic surgery in which a number of advances have been made in recent years. Technical variations have been developed to help reduce scarring on the breast's surface. For some patients, liposuction alone may provide sufficient reduction of breast volume. However, traditional breast reduction techniques remain popular due to consistent and predictable results that hold up well over time.

"In plastic surgery, one can never take a 'cookie-cutter' approach," says Peter Fodor, MD, president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. "As plastic surgeons, we always try to select the least invasive technique that will provide the best outcome for each individual. But no two patients are alike, and what works well for one may not be the right approach for another. Breast reduction is an operation that inevitably involves some tradeoff, but patients generally are very pleased with the final results."

The 2200-member American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) is the only plastic surgery organization devoted entirely to the advancement of cosmetic surgery. ASAPS is recognized throughout the world as the authoritative source for cosmetic surgery education. U.S. members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Canadian members are certified in plastic surgery by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Toll-free referral line: 888.ASAPS.11 (272.7711). Web site: www.surgery.org

Knowledge is Power. Information is How You Get It!

Anti-Aging, Wrinkle Treatments FREE SHIPPING AND FREE SAMPLES WITH EVERY ORDER!! Strivectin, ddf Prevage,  Kinerase,  M.D. Forte, Skin Medica, TNS Recovery Complex... HYLEXIN Specifically developed to address the underlying cause of serious dark under-eye circles Do you want to advertise on this site? Click for details...

PROACTIV SOLUTION ACNE TREATMENT