Trends in breast reduction technique.

[BACKGROUND] There are two main approaches to breast reduction surgery today: the traditional long scar ("Wise-pattern") technique and the more recent short ("vertical") scar technique, which is becoming more popular. During the last two decades there has been a gradual shift between the two techniques, including at our institute.

[OBJECTIVES] To evaluate the evidence behind this obvious trend.

[METHODS] We retrospectively collected data fromarchived hospital charts of all patients who underwent breast reduction surgery during the period 1995-2007. Epidemicological, clinical and postoperative data were analyzed and compared between patients in whom the short scar vs. the long scar techniques was used.

[RESULTS] During the study period 91 patients underwent breast reduction surgery in our department: 34 with the Wise-pattern breast reduction technique and 57 with the short-scar procedure. There was no significant difference in operative and postoperative data, including length of hospital stay. In some of the categories there was even a slight advantage (but not statistically significant) to the former. The only significant difference was the size of reduction, with a tendencyto prefer the long scar technique for larger reductions; however, with experience gained the limit for short scar reductions was gradually extended to a maximum of 1470 g.

[CONCLUSIONS] We noticed a sharp increase in the safe and uneventful practice of the short scar technique in breast reduction of < or = 1400 g--especially in young women without extreme ptosis. This observation, together with other advantages, namely, reduced scar length, prolonged shape preservation and better breast projection, support the use of this technique.