The effects of Moufarrege total posterior pedicle reduction mammaplasty on breastfeeding: a review of 931 cases.

[BACKGROUND] Since its original description in 1979, the Moufarrege total posterior pedicle reduction mammaplasty technique has proven to be a safe and reliable procedure providing aesthetic and functional enhancement.

[OBJECTIVES] To determine if the Moufarrege total posterior pedicle reduction mammaplasty affects successful breastfeeding.

[METHOD] Retrospective chart review was performed for patients operated on between 1981 and 1997, and a written questionnaire was given. Patients were asked about their ability to lactate and successfully breastfeed preoperatively and postoperatively. The t test and χ(2) test were used to compare means and categorical variables, respectively. Values were also compared with a sample of women (n = 2223) from the Quebec general population as collected by the Longitudinal Study of Child Development in Quebec (ELDEQ, 1998-2002).

[RESULTS] A total of 931 patients (all women) underwent reduction mammaplasty during the study period at Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (H.S.) or Hopital Hotel-Dieu, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (E.B. and R.M). There was a 62% response rate to the questionnaire. There were no statistically significant differences in the percentage of women able to lactate postoperatively vs preoperatively (98% vs 100%, respectively; P = .2). The percentage of women able to successfully breastfeed for 4 and 6 months was also not statistically different when comparing postoperative vs preoperative ability (4 months: 33% vs 44 %, P = .13; 6 months: 29% vs 28%, P = .77). The sample of women from the Quebec population did not differ statistically from those undergoing the Moufarrege breast reduction in terms of successful breastfeeding for 1, 2, 3, and 4 months (59% vs 67%, 52% vs 47%, 42% vs 41%, and 40% vs 33%, respectively).

[CONCLUSIONS] The Moufarrege breast reduction technique is a reliable and safe procedure that does not seem to negatively affect the success of breastfeeding based on the results of our retrospective chart review and patient questionnaire.

[LEVEL OF EVIDENCE] 4.