ABSTRACT
Introduction: Breast plastic surgery is one of the most performed in the world and reduction mammoplasty, in turn, offers the solution to correct functional and aesthetic problems caused by bulky and/or ptosed breasts. The search for a more pleasing shape (adequate volume, suspension and breast shape) and long-term breast development led to the proposition of numerous techniques for reductive mammoplasty, paying close attention to the pedicle responsible for the vascular supply of the areola-papillary complex.
Objective: This systematic review aims to describe the scientific evidence related to the technique used in breast reduction surgery and to evaluate the complications related to the choice of the reduction mammoplasty technique, as well as to approach the scar shape in hypertrophic breasts.
Methodos: The research was carried out in five databases - PubMed, Cochrane, LILACS, Scielo and Virtual Health Library - using the descriptors "mammaplasty", "reduction", "techniques" and "adult" in the period from 2013 to January 2017. The quality of the articles was evaluated by the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) criteria.
Results: Nine articles were selected because they obey the inclusion criteria, totaling 2,527 patients and six techniques studied. Reducing mammoplasty of the inferior pedicle was the technique present in a greater number of articles, being used in four studies totaling 496 patients operated by the technique. The most common complication, present in five of the nine studies, was a surgical wound infection in 87 patients. Most of the authors used the inverted T-scar, present in seven studies and totaling 1599 women.
Conclusion: The use of the inferior pedicle was the technique used in a larger number of studies being chosen by the authors for the following reasons: fewer complications and indication for larger breasts. The scar shape that was most described in the studies was the inverted T-scar. Regarding the complications, it was noticed that the infection of the surgical wound was the complication seen in a greater number of patients.
Keywords: Reconstructive surgical procedures; Mammaplasty; Women; Review systematic.