Breast hypertrophy and asymmetry: a retrospective study on a sample of 344 consecutive patients.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative evaluation of the anatomical features of the region around the breast is strongly recommended in order to choose the most appropriate technique of reductive mammaplasty. Normally breast hypertrophy presents itself as a bilateral clinical picture, but no study in the literature refers to the incidence of volumetric asymmetry. AIMS: This study aims to analyze weight differences between the right and left breast on a selected sample of patients who underwent reductive mammaplasty or mastopexy over the last five years at our Plastic Surgery Unit and have maintained a good postoperative symmetry for at least 1 year subsequently. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 344 consecutive cases treated between January 2005 and April 2010 were considered for this study. Patients were classified according to the degree of hypertrophy and age. Breast asymmetry was scored, according to the senior author's original classification, on the weight difference of glandular resection. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In 20% of the patients a difference greater than 200 g was found. The statistical analysis showed no significant differences in the predominant side (left or right). Breast hypertrophy is confirmed as a substantially bilateral pathology, but in 1 out of 5 patients a difference of more than one quadrant can be present: thus a careful evaluation is essential in order to decide the correct surgical strategy.