Lactation and breast-feeding ability following lateral pedicle mammaplasty.
A retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the ability of breast-feeding using lateral pedicle reduction mammaplasty. A standard questionnaire was sent to 72 patients who had been operated on at a fertile age. Data was collected regarding the duration and quality of preoperative and postoperative breast-feeding, difficulties while breast-feeding, reasons for discontinuation of breast-feeding or for not attempting to breast-feed, and postoperative subjective sensitivity. Thirteen of the women who replied to the questionnaire had given birth after surgery. The pressure threshold sensitivity of areola-nipple complex was measured in nine of the above cases. To preserve lactation, a technique leaving structures untouched within the pedicle with increased dimensions was used.Breast-feeding was considered successful in this study if it was performed exclusively, without supplementation, for two months. Seven women (54%) breast-fed successfully for between two and 14 months (5.8+/-1.3) following surgery. Two women (16%) were classified as unsuccessful and four women (30%) did not breast-feed at all. The success of breast-feeding was limited by nonsurgical factors including the influence of medical personal. Five of eight women (62%) who had children preoperatively improved their rate of breast-feeding after surgery. No correlation was demonstrated between measured sensitivity and breast-feeding (p=0.65). No significant correlation was found between the resected tissue and breast-feeding (p=0.08). No relation was observed between the duration of breast-feeding and the period between operation and partus.
Hefter
W
W
Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway.
Lindholm
P
P
Elvenes
O P
OP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000502:physiology*; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000523:psychology*; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D009558:Nipples / Q000502:physiology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires