03dsYun165

Dermatologic Surgery

2003 Abstract

0302-165 Yun

Yun PL, Bruck M, Felsenfeld L, Katz BE.
Breast enlargement observed after power liposuction: a retrospective review. Dermatol Surg. 2003 Feb;29(2):165-7; discussion 167. PMID: 12562347

Comment in:
Dermatol Surg. 2003 Nov;29(11):1162.

College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York,
USA.

BACKGROUND: After undergoing power liposuction to various body areas, a
significant number of subjects reported an increase in their breast size that
occurred spontaneously several months after their procedure. OBJECTIVE: To
establish the incidence of breast enlargement among subjects who underwent power
liposuction and to identify variables that are associated with the phenomenon.
METHODS: A retrospective chart review and patient interview were performed from
among 73 subjects who had undergone power liposuction at our center. Variables
such as age, original weight, volume of aspirated fat, estrogen supplements,
amount of weight loss or gain, and body areas aspirated were compared between
those who experienced breast enlargement and those who did not. RESULTS:
Thirty-four percent of the subjects (25 of 73) reported an increase in breast
size. Of this group, 32% (8 of 25) reported an increase in cup size of one or
more. Variables associated with the cohort who experienced breast enlargement
included larger volume of fat aspiration and liposuction in the abdomen and hip
location. CONCLUSION: Breast enlargement was observed in 34% of the subjects
after power liposuction either in the form of a larger bra cup size or a
subjective feeling of increased fullness. We hypothesize that an altered
androgen to estrogen ratio after liposuction may be responsible for this change.