Commentary on: Outcome After Breast Reduction Considering Body Mass Index and Resection Amount

Macromastia is a common condition seen by plastic surgeons, therefore, this condition carries important burdens in health-related quality of life (HRQL).^1-3 The majority of women evaluated for breast reduction seek surgery for relief of the physical symptoms associated with macromastia including pain in the back, neck, and shoulders, intertrigo and shoulder grooving. Often these women with symptomatic macromastia will also display signs of decreased physical activity, poor general health and nutrition, as well as, diminished self-esteem. In some respects, the psychological and social implications of macromastia may be more damaging than the physical symptoms. Surgical intervention may often do more for these patients than simply reducing the size of their breasts and ameliorating their physical ailments. In this light, the current article was designed to evaluate both the short- and long-term effects of breast reduction using the variables of body mass index (BMI) and breast reduction amount (BRA) (the proportion of resected breast tissue weight to the patient's body weight). This is an interesting article that brings up many points about breast reduction surgery outcomes, some of which are logical and some warrant further discussion and research.