BackgroundIn Ghana and most developing countries there has been no standardized study of reduction mammaplasty (RM) in patients with symptomatic macromastia (SM), despite its debilitating effects. This study aimed to analyze the physical and psychological effects associated with female patients who underwent reduction mammaplasty and to develop a guideline for plastic surgeons in developing countries to know the most important signs and symptoms to consider in SM patients.MethodsFrom 2003 to 2009, all females with SM who visited Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana, for RM were given a questionnaire designed to evaluate SM-related physical and psychological effects. These patients were then provided the same questionnaire at their final visit 5 months postoperatively to assess the effects of RM on SM.ResultsSixty-three patients who underwent RM were evaluated, with a mean age of 28.5 years. Twenty-seven (42.9%) patients reported that their macromastia started during puberty, with 3 (4.8%) patients associating the onset with pregnancy. Thirty (47.6%) patients reported having SM for more than 10 years. Multiple regression analysis revealed upper- and lower-back pain (p = 0.0005), painful bra strap grooves (p = 0.0041), teasing (p = 0.01), and poor self-image (p = 0.021) to be significant factors for which patients underwent RM. Postoperatively, most of the patients’ physical symptoms resolved, while 2 (3.2%) patients complained of residual psychological effects.ConclusionRM offers substantial symptomatic relief for patients with SM and results in significant improvement in the patient’s quality of life. This study conclusively demonstrates that, upper- and lower-back pain, painful bra strap grooves, teasing, and poor self-image should be considered by plastic surgeons before deciding which SM patient to treat when confronted with numerous SM patients.
Background: The actual cause of Gestational gigantomastia (Gg) remains a dilemma. Its treatment has ideally been surgical, employing most commonly the different pedicle techniques in the last decade. Aim: This paper reviews the literature on the management of Gg using the inferior pedicle technique (IPT) and supports it with a successful case presentation using the IPT. Method: Using the PubMed search engine and Google scholar, literature search was done for Gg treated with the inferior pedicle reduction method. Published literature from other sources was also included. Data obtained was cleaned and analysed. The inferior pedicle breast reduction technique was employed without any modification in the normal procedure for the case presented. Results: Thirty-one literature addressing Gg and IPT were identified. Most surgeons use this technique with very good outcomes. Our patient confirmed reduced breast mould, firm and adolescent looking breast with no back, shoulder, neck and rib pains. She also experienced with time increased nipple areolar sensation, ability to undertake all tasks with ease and a new sense of confidence. Conclusion: The inferior pedicle breast reduction technique can be the standard treatment for gestational gigantomastia with the length from suprasternal notch to the nipple ≤ 50 cm that present without any anatomical complications.
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