title: Large-volume reduction mammaplasty: the effect of body mass index on postoperative complications.
abstract: Eighty-six women underwent modified inferior pedicled reduction mammaplasty. All were grouped according to body mass index (BMI): 14 in the overweight group, 51 in the obese group, and 21 in the morbidly obese group. The mean ages were 34, 35, and 36, respectively, for the 3 groups and were not statistically different. The mean resection weight in the overweight group was 929 g, 1316 g for the obese group, and 1760 g for the morbidly obese group. Wound healing complications increased with BMI; the overweight, obese, and morbidly obese groups had 21%, 43%, and 71% of complications, respectively. The results were not statistically different. The rate of repeat operations increased proportionally with the BMI to 7%, 8%, and 19%, respectively. Postoperative BMI was measured in 30 patients. Fifty percent of this group had limited preoperative activity secondary to breast enlargement. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 43 months. Forty-seven percent of this group continued to have limited activity after breast reduction with a mean BMI of 37.8 kg/m2. The mean BMI of all women was 37.41 kg/m2 with a total BMI change of -0.4 kg/m2, suggesting that most women do not lose a significant amount of weight after breast reduction. There was no statistical difference in long-term BMI.
authors.affiliation: Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30901-4080, USA. MGamboa@mcg.edu
authors.forename: G Mabel
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Gamboa-Bobadilla
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Killingsworth
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D009765:Obesity / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology