Is a Mammogram Necessary Before Breast Reduction?

asked 9 months ago by slbxo33 in Buffalo, NY
Latest answer by Andrew Turk, MD
Question viewed 217 times
Tags: mammogram

10 answers to Is a Mammogram Necessary Before Breast Reduction?

Mammogram before breast surgery

I recommend a mammogram for any patient over 40 and having breast surgery . Usually the mammogram is completed within a year of having the planned breast reduction. It is important to detect any suspicious breast abnormalities before surgery, because the breast tissue anatomy changes after having the breast reduction. And all tissue removed is sent to pathology for analysis as well. All of this should be discussed with you by the plastic surgeon. more

Andrew Turk, MD
Naples Plastic Surgeon

Preoperative mammogram before breast reduction

As you can see just about everyone is asking the same question, which is your age. My normal cut off is late 30s or certainly by 40, to insist on one. Many reductions being performed in young women would not normally require mammography unless there is some very specific history or condition. I perform only the "Scarless" and occasionally we will ask for mammography to help determine the breast density. Hope this is of some value for you.

Sherwood Baxt, MD
New Jersey Plastic Surgeon

Mammogram before breast reduction.

Current guidelines set by the American Cancer Society is to have a yearly mammogram starting at age 40. These are the guidelines that I go by when recomending a mammogram before any breast surgery. Therefore I require all patients over the age of 40 haveing breast surgery to have had a mammogram within the previous year.

M. Keith Hanna, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Mammography and breast reduction surgery

Unfortunately, there are no absolute criteria for mammography prior to breast reduction surgery unless the patient is over 40. The reason for having a mammogram prior to breast reduction surgery is that your breast tissue will be rearranged, and some of it send for pathologic evaluation. It is better to know about any suspicious areas before proceeding with surgery. If the patient is over 40, I insist on a mammogram within the year. I generally strongly recommend a... more

B. Aviva Preminger, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Mammogram with breast surgery

I encourage every patient to get a baseline mammogram prior to any type of breast surgery (if they wish) but I require a recent mammogram for my patients over 40 years of age.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Breast Reduction and Mammogram

Hello Slbxo33, Mammograms are currently coming under a lot of scrutiny in the last few years since the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force came out with it's guidelines in 2009. Based on their interpretation of scientific data so far, mammogram screening should begin at age 50, with every other year follow up in 'normal risk' women. There has been much contentious debate on both sides between physicians of many different specialties, and it has even... more

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Mammogram Before breast Reduction

There is no absolute reason for a mammogram prior to undergoing a breast reduction. Many younger patients (under 30-35 years of age) are not typically candidates for mammograms in general because their breast tissue is usually too dense for mammograms to be of any benefit. Older patients who have had a negative mammogram within a year usually would not need the mammogram repeated. Certainly an older patient who has never had a mammogram or who has not had a mammogram for a... more

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Mammograms before breast reduction

If you are young and have no medical history or risk factors you may not need a mammogram before a breast reduction. Generally routine mammogram guidelines will apply as recommended by the the American Cancer Society. For most a mammogram before breast reduction is simply a good idea. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Mammogram before breast reduction

It is also my policy to require a mammogram prior to any breast surgery so that the health of the breast can be determined preop. If any other issues need to be addressed prior to surgery they can be.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Mammogram before breast reduction

I require all patients having breast reduction who meet guidleine requirements have a pre-operative mammogram. Current guidelines are every one to two years in patients over 40 and yearly in patients over fifty. If a primary relative (mother or sister) has breast cancer those guideleins move up ten years. The reason this is important is that in the event of a papalble mass after surgery secondary to fat necrosis or scar tissue the patient can be reassured that the condition... more