Abstract

AIM: We evaluated the types of complications after reduction mammaplasty in our patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January 2004 and November 2006, 94 breasts of 47 patients with average age of 44 (27 - 73) have been reduced by mammaplasty for macromastia. Free areola graft technique in 8 patients, adverse T incision with inferior pedicle technique in 14 patients and vertical incision w ith upper internal pedicle technique in 25 patiens was made. Average body rnass index was 36 (20,4 - 40,2). Surgical complications were nipple necrosis, seroma, hematoma, wound infection, delayed wound healing, fat necrosis, wound opening, and loss of nipple sensitivity whereas cosmetic complications were hypertrophic scar, asymmetrie and dog ear deformity. The type of operation, amount of tissue removed, body mass index (BMI), smoking cigarette and diabetes were evaluated in terms of causative factors leading to complication. FINDINGS: The overall complications rate was 55,3% in 94 breasts of 47 patients. Loss of nipple sensitivity in free areola graft method was reasonably higher than the other methods. (p=0,001). The wound opening (p=0,04), infection (p=0,05) and loss of nipple sensitivity (0,03) was higher in the patients with increased specimen weight. Hypertrophic scar (P=0,02) and fat necrosis (p=0,04) were higher in the group with BMI is over 30. The delayed wound healing was more frequent in cigarette smokers (p=0,013) RESULT: The rate of hypertrophic scar and fat necrosis were higher in obese (BMI over 30) patients, whereas wound opening, loss of sense of nipple and wound infection were higher if the tissue removal was över 500 gram. Free areola graft has a very high rate of loss of nipple sensitivity. Smoking was an increasing factor for delayed wound healing whereas no relation was found between diabetes and complications