Background: Macromastia can limit women's ability to exercise. Reduction mammoplasty has been reported to subjectively improve exercise capability and stimulate weight loss. Considering the lack of published quantitative data, we sought to examine change in weight and body mass index (BMI) in adolescent women following reduction mammoplasty.
Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed of patients under 21 years of age that underwent reduction mammoplasty at our institution from 2015 through 2019.
Results: Fifty-six patients with follow-up weight measurements were included in analysis. Median follow-up time of our sample was 46.0 months. Only 22 (39.3%) experienced a decrease in BMI at final follow-up compared to baseline. Patients classified as healthy weight preoperatively (BMI 18.5-24.9kg/m) experienced a significant increase in BMI at 2-year, 3-year, 5-year, and final postoperative follow-up compared to baseline. Patients classified as overweight (25.0-29.99kg/m) or obese (≥30kg/m) did not experience significant BMI change at final postoperative follow-up.
Conclusions: BMI and weight trended upwards postoperatively regardless of BMI classification. Reduction mammoplasty alone is not sufficient to stimulate weight loss. Healthy lifestyle changes should be encouraged to help prevent weight gain in adolescent women following reduction mammoplasty.
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