title: [Breast-reduction surgery--a long-term survey of indications and outcomes].
abstract: Between 1986 and 2003, breast-reduction surgery was performed in a total of 814 women. The indication was established on the basis of physical complaints, chronic back pain, stiff neck or recurrent intertrigo in the foldbeneath the breasts. A proportion of the patients were interviewed postoperatively using a questionnaire, to determine the impact of the operation on their quality of life. 91% of those surveyed reported a postoperative improvement in the perception of their own body, and 80% were satisfied with the reduced size of their breasts. In conclusion, in the hands of an experienced breast surgeon, breast-reduction surgery for the proper indication results in a reliable and safe diminishment in breast size and tightening of slack tissue, leading to a significant enhancement in the patient's quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Plastische und Handchirurgie, Chirurgische Universitätsklinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kneser
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jaeger
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polykandriotis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ohnolz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Horch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009558:Nipples / Q000637:transplantation; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology