title: Comparing fitness performance before and after breast reduction surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast reduction is one of the most commonly performed surgeries by plastic surgeons. Patients may receive many benefits and overall complications are low allowing for breast reduction to be a popular procedure offered by plastic surgeons. Fitness improvement is a perceived benefit but has not been objectively demonstrated, which is the purpose of this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  An IRB approved retrospective review of fitness performance scores before and after breast reduction for symptomatic macromastia in active duty women was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No improvement or statistically significant difference was demonstrate in overall fitness, push-ups, sit-ups, waist measurement, or 1.5-mile run time. All women reported relief of symptoms of macromastia and felt more comfortable exercising.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although comfort during exercise improves, actual fitness performance remains unchanged. Fitness requirements of active duty members allowed for this unique opportunity to study actual fitness performance in breast reduction patients.
authors.affiliation: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda, 8901 Rockville Pike, Building 9, 2nd Deck, Rockville, MD 20889, USA.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Latham
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brehm
authors.forename: Danny J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sharon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001940:Breast / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000601:surgery*; D016462:Mammaplasty; D008889:Military Personnel; D010809:Physical Fitness; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult