Predictive Patient Characteristics and Surgical Variables That Influence Postoperative Complications following Bilateral Reduction Mammoplasty

Breast hypertrophy is known to be a source of both physical and psychosocial health deficits. Therefore, the ability to relieve these symptoms with surgical treatment is an important consideration for patients. The primary objective of this study was to assess the impact of patient body mass index (BMI) on postoperation complications. The secondary objective of this study was to assess patient demographics, surgical techniques, and patient comorbidities for their impact on specific postoperative complications.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients who received bilateral breast reduction surgery in Nova Scotia over the past 10 years was performed. A total of 1022 patients met the inclusion criteria of the study. Logistic regression modeling was performed to identify demographic factors, surgical techniques, and patient comorbidities that impact the risk of developing specific postoperative complications.

RESULTS: Our study population had a total complication incidence of 37.7%. BMI was not significantly different between patients who developed complications and those who did not. Logistic regression modeling showed a significant relationship that with each unit increase in BMI above the mean (25.9 kg/m2) the relative risk of patient-reported postoperative asymmetry increased by 6%.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that BMI has several nonsignificant relationships to postoperative complications following bilateral breast reduction. These trends do not translate to significantly increased complaints of asymmetry, scarring' or revision surgeries. This study also provides valuable information on the timeline of postoperative complications and when they can commonly be identified.