Is breast reduction a functional or a cosmetic operation? Proposal of an objective discriminating criterion.

Classification of breast reduction as a functional or cosmetic operation is an unresolved issue. Surgical reduction of the breast is equally indicated both for correction of functional sequelae of breast hypertrophy and for a merely subjective aesthetic discomfort. Although several criteria are currently adopted by the national and international associations of plastic surgeons, none of them appears to fulfil the aim of objectively discriminating the functional from cosmetic indications. An original, simple and synthetic objective criterion was developed at the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department of the University of Pavia using some basic anthropometric measurements.