This was in the recent March 2023 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal. “Quantifying Surgical Complications for Reduction Mammaplasty in Adolescents.” I read it to see if there was anything newsworthy, as I do a fair number of breast reductions in women younger than age 20. (It is common for many women to do a reduction in the summer prior to going to college.)
For those with no attention spans, the news was good. “Age was not a risk factor for surgical complications.”
It seems like a “of course!” kind of study, but it is good to know if there are age related issues.
Study:
- 80 patients
- mean age 18.3 (range 15-20)
- mean reduction was 584 g (over a pound- a moderate/larger reduction)
- 60 % anchor scar, 40% lollipop scar (woo hoo! go lollipop!)
Findings:
- 16% complications: wound healing, local wound care
- No difference in surgical complications when age was increased or decreased.
My thoughts?
I’m surprised they didn’t have fewer complications given their young skin, good arteries, etc. And the 16% complication rate seemed high, though I don’t know what qualified as an issue. Younger patients definitely have a harder time taking it easy and not being active while healing. Good to know they are good candidates.
Take home message for those of you who are tortured by your breasts: I do lots of breast reduction surgeries on women just before college or after, and they are radiant. I hear how lifechanging it is all the time.