title: Predicting breast reduction weight using the mass of breast ptosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The preoperative prediction of therapeutic breast reduction weights, to achieve both relief of breast weight symptoms and yet achieve excellent breast shape, remains a challenge.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To design a simple clinical method to preoperatively predict and quantify therapeutic breast reduction weights.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 31 women who underwent therapeutic bilateral reduction mammaplasty, the mass of the hypertrophic breast hanging below the inframammary fold was preoperatively weighed and then compared with the mass of the reduction specimen. Thirty patients underwent breast reduction using a superomedial nipple-areolar pedicle. Postoperative breast weight-related symptoms and breast shape findings were then noted. Statistical analysis relied on mean, SD, sample size, Mann-Whitney test for medians, Levene's test for variances and regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average clinical follow-up was 160 days, with all patients achieving satisfactory breast size and shape from both the patient and surgeon's perspectives. All patients reported improvement of back pain, shoulder pain and lower neck pain. Two breasts developed delayed healing of the lateral skin flap, necessitating debridement and reclosure, followed by uneventful ongoing healing. There was no significant difference in preoperative ptotic breast mass and resectional breast mass (all P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simple preoperative weighing of the ptotic portion of the hypertrophic breast can serve as a goal for the reduction weight, while creating pleasing breast proportions and improving breast weight-related symptoms. Preoperative quantification of the ptotic breast mass may guide the reduction technique and assist insurance precertification efforts.
authors: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Division of Plastic Surgery, Peoria, Illinois, USA.
authors: John D
authors: JD
authors: Murray
authors: Eric T
authors: ET
authors: Elwood
authors: Rebecca
authors: R
authors: Barrick
authors: Jack
authors: J
authors: Feng