Titilayo Oluwakemi* and Rasheed Ayobami Aranmolate
The disproportionately large breast has been associated with severe physical and psychological symptoms. Unfortunately, nonsurgical treatments often provide little or no relief. Plastic surgery in low-resource countries like Nigeria is plagued with many challenges including, Inadequate awareness of the public and some medical personnel of the Practice of Plastic Surgery, Shortage of trained personnel, cost of surgery, culture, and beliefs, patients’ expectations, and complications from surgery. The high cost of having a much-needed mammaplasty in Nigeria has put patients with macromastia in a lot of physical discomforts resulting from the weight of their breasts and emotional distress or a more significant mental health problem as a result of their large breasts. The author aims to share his experience, outcomes, techniques, and patient satisfaction with patients that require a breast-reduction procedure in Nigeria. 10 patients were randomly selected for a free-breast reduction surgery to alleviate the physical and psychological symptoms that are associated with macromastia. All consent was given for their information to be taken. Pre- and post-surgery pictures were taken. The technique used for breast reductions aims to reduce the symptoms the patient has presented with and also reduce the risks associated with the technique used viz a viz the nipple sensation and loss of Nipple-Areola Complex (NAC). The Use of the inferior and internal mammary and isolated lateral pedicle was the technique used in this study to ensure both breast reductions and also the preservation of both the sensation and vascular supply to the breast. Trends observed with the average age, weight of breast tissue excised, the weight of patients, duration of surgery, estimated blood loss, and patient satisfaction were reported.The mean age of the patient presented for the procedure was 27.8 years, the mean weight of the patient was 87.5 kg, and the mean weight of breast tissue excised was 1.7 kg from both sides of the breasts. Based on patients’ satisfaction post-surgery, aesthetically pleasing results and a significant improvement in the earlier presented physical and psychological symptoms were achieved. Demand for a much-needed breast-reduction surgery has been affected by the high cost of the procedure in Nigeria. Patients who had their breast-reduction procedures were subsequently satisfied with the result of the procedure that assured them a better quality of life.
