The vertical reduction mammaplasty has become an increasingly popular procedure, particularly among young women of childbearing age. In this procedure the nipple-areola complex is carried to its new position based on a full-thickness dermo-parenchymal superomedial pedicle. In order to evaluate the success of breast-feeding after a vertical mammaplasty a retrospective study was performed. In this study the breast-feeding success of women of childbearing age (15 to 40) who had undergone vertical reduction mammaplasty was compared to that of women of similar age with macromastia but no prior breast surgery. All women were interviewed by telephone using a standardized questionnaire. The study group consisted of 58 women who had an average age of 29 and had children after their vertical mammaplasty. The mean weight of breast tissue removed per breast was 610 grams. The control group consisted of 149 women with macromastia, average age of 27, who had been evaluated for possible breast reduction surgery and who had children prior to their consultation. A period of two weeks or more was chosen as the defining duration of a successful breast-feeding attempt. Those individuals judged able to breast-feed were further classified on the basis of having breast-fed exclusively or with supplementation. The results demonstrated that of the women who attempted to breast-feed, 61% (56/92) in the control group and 65% (24/37) in the study group were successful. The break-down of the successful group indicated that 22% in the control and 24% in the study group supplemented their breast-feeding. The groups were not significantly different (p>.05). In conclusion, breast-feeding success after vertical mammaplasty was 65%, suggesting that it is similar to that of women with no prior breast surgery and macromastia.

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