title: Hyperplastic breast anomalies in the female adolescent breast.
abstract: Macromastia in adolescents is multifactorial and usually idiopathic, associated with obesity or hormonal imbalances. Less commonly, it can result from virginal or juvenile breast hypertrophy, a rare condition of unknown etiology, where an alarmingly rapid breast enlargement occurs during puberty. Breast hypertrophy in the adolescent population can have significant long-term medical and psychological impacts. Although symptoms can be severe, many plastic surgeons, pediatricians, and parents are often reluctant to surgically treat adolescent macromastia. However, reduction mammoplasty is a safe and effective treatment and may be the only way to alleviate the increased social, psychological, and physical strain caused by macromastia in adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Erik M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Wolfswinkel
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lemaine
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Weathers
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Chuma J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chike-Obi
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Amy S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Lior
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heller
keywords: adolescent; juvenile breast hypertrophy; macromastia; reduction mammoplasty