What Are the 3rd to 7th Place Complications in Breast Reduction Surgery, According to Statistics?

Hello.

In the previous video,

we looked at the ranking and frequency

of complications after breast reduction surgery.

Based on the reliable statistical data

from the BRAVO study,

the top 1 and 2 were

delayed wound healing and

suture exposure.

Today, continuing on,

we will take a look at the side effects

from 3rd to 7th place in breast reduction.

The 3rd most common

side effect that can appear after

breast reduction surgery is 'hematoma.'

It occurs at a rate of about 3.7%

of all surgeries,

and a hematoma means that after bleeding occurs,

blood at the site has clotted and

collected there.

Including even minor hematomas,

the rate is around 3.7%,

but I think the actual hematomas that

require treatment are probably

less than 1%.

Since breast reduction surgery involves

a wide surgical area,

it seems that the possibility of bleeding

increases in proportion to that.

However, because the blood does not pool

in dangerous areas such as the abdominal cavity

or the thoracic cavity,

the risk can be considered low compared with

its frequency.

The next, 4th place, is 'nipple necrosis.'

Its incidence is about 3.6%.

In fact, nipple necrosis is a truly

irreversible side effect that should never occur.

This is because nipple necrosis is a side effect

in which blood flow to the nipple is impaired,

the nipple turns black and necrotizes,

and then disappears.

The 3.6% figure includes not only total nipple necrosis

but also very small partial necrosis.

In mild cases, it can be supplemented with

medical tattooing, but in rare cases,

the entire nipple may necrotize.

In such cases, a nipple reconstruction procedure

may be performed to create a new nipple.

However, even if reconstruction is done,

it is difficult for it to become exactly the same

as the original nipple,

so satisfaction is not very high.

Therefore, rather than reconstruction,

it can be said that preventing the side effect

is more important.

The problem is that people who want to undergo

breast reduction surgery want to make their breasts smaller,

but the more breast tissue is removed,

the more damage to blood vessels is unavoidable.

Therefore, it is important to confirm

the stability of the blood vessels leading to the nipple

before removing tissue.

The 5th complication of reduction surgery is

'hypertrophic scar.'

It is said to occur in about 2.5% of all surgeries,

but because this survey was conducted on Westerners,

there is some difference from the situation in Korea.

This is because hypertrophic scars tend to develop

more easily in Asians than in Westerners.

So the actual incidence may be higher than this.

Therefore, while monitoring the postoperative course,

scar treatments such as scar ointments, injections,

and laser therapy are recommended.

6th place is 'fat necrosis.'

This occurs when blood supply to the remaining

fat tissue after surgery is not smooth.

Fat necrosis can be described as

fat becoming calcified

or changing into a cyst-like lump.

Its incidence is about 1.8%,

and I think the actual frequency is

even higher than that.

The reason is that fat necrosis often does not cause

any particular problems, so it tends to be overlooked.

If it is difficult to check progress regularly with ultrasound,

it is hard to detect unless it is palpable.

For this reason, fat necrosis is less a complication with a low incidence

and more a complication that occurs often but is not easily detected.

The last, 7th place, is

'seroma and infection.'

Each is reported to occur at about 1.2%.

A seroma is a buildup of fluid in the surgical space,

and aspiration with a needle is the usual method,

but if it recurs repeatedly,

surgical treatment may be necessary.

Another treatment, inflammation (infection), is managed

with medications such as antibiotics,

but if it is severe,

it is also treated surgically with irrigation.

In this way, focusing on the main side effects,

we looked at the complications that occur after

breast reduction surgery from 1st to 7th place.

If you are planning surgery,

you need to know the statistics on these side effects,

and you should make your decision with accurate information

so that even if something unexpected happens,

you will not panic and can continue discussing

future treatment.