Background: Breast reduction is a time-consuming procedure with a relatively high complication rate. Furthermore, recurrent breast enlargement can occur in case of postoperative weight gain. The authors describe a breast reduction technique based on liposuction, followed mostly by skin resection alone, which makes this operation easier, faster, and safer, with more stable results.
Methods: Two hundred thirty-three patients were treated by breast liporeduction between 2006 and 2017, with an age range of 18 to 70 years (average age, 42 years). The patients were selected after careful clinical and instrumental assessment among those in whose breasts the fat component was prevalent over the gland. Most of the soft-tissue reduction consisted of fat aspiration. The follow-up ranged from 12 months to 9 years (average, 4.5 years).
Results: The results of this study have been extremely satisfactory. Most of the patients healed uneventfully and were happy with the final outcome. Very few complications were encountered, among which were small steatonecroses and partial nipple-areola complex necroses.
Conclusions: For the past 15 years, all four authors have preferred this breast reduction technique over others. Fat only is selectively removed by aspiration with a blunt cannula, sparing the vascular network and easily mobilizing the nipple-areola complex. Liporeduction provides a good stable result because any postoperative weight variation will not change the volume of a breast consisting mainly of glandular and fibrous tissue.
Clinical question/level of evidence: Therapeutic, IV.
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