A successful breastfeeding after vertical scar reduction mammaplasty with superior pedicle: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Most of patients undergo reduction mammaplasty for aesthetic or therapeutic reasons without consider the effect on breastfeeding function. Vertical scar mammaplasty with superior pedicle is expected to be a breast reduction procedure that can keep maintain the function of breastfeeding. This is the first recorded report of breastfeeding after vertical scar reduction mammaplasty with superior pedicle in Indonesia. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 23 years old woman presented to the outpatient clinic with enlargement of both breast for 3 years. Physical examination showed bilateral breast enlargement. No tenderness, nodules, nor axillary lymph node enlargement were found. The patient was managed with vertical scar mammaplasty with superior pedicle. The patient was followed up with complication of skin excess and scarring on the bilateral submammary folds. We performed excision and resection procedures to eliminate the skin excess and scars without further complications. The patient was married and gave birth to her first and second child after two and five years following mammaplasty. The patient was able to provide exclusive breastfeeding for both of her children. DISCUSSION: Vertical scar mammaplasty with superior pedicle surgery is a surgical technique that combines a superior pedicle for the areola and performs a central-inferior quadrant resection for breast reduction. It only takes the tissue and glands that are located in the lower quadrant and still maintains the surrounding tissue and glands. This technique also maintains the integrity of nipple-areola complex (NAC) which also important in the lactation process CONCLUSION: Vertical scar mammaplasty with superior pedicle can be one of the superior techniques in breast reduction which can maintain the breastfeeding function thereby increasing patient satisfaction.