Lexington, Ky From the departments of pediatrics Dr. Hollingsworth and plastic surgery, University of Kentucky college of Medicine, Lexington. The regulation of complex synergistic hormonal interrelationships in normal human breast development is not well understood. Appropriate development involves the interplay of hypothalamic, pituitary, and target organ hormones. A year-old girl is described who developed massive virginal breast hypertrophy immediately after the onset of menarche and several months following a severe blow to the head.
Hyperplastic Breast Anomalies in the Female Adolescent Breast
She had lost over pounds with Weight Watchers and desired removal of the excess skin "batwings" of the upper arms. Final scar well hidden along the undersurface of the inner upper arm. Learn More. Aylward or have educational resources emailed to you by calling or completing the short form below.
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Macromastia in adolescents is multifactorial and usually idiopathic, associated with obesity or hormonal imbalances. Less commonly, it can result from virginal or juvenile breast hypertrophy, a rare condition of unknown etiology, where an alarmingly rapid breast enlargement occurs during puberty. Breast hypertrophy in the adolescent population can have significant long-term medical and psychological impacts. Although symptoms can be severe, many plastic surgeons, pediatricians, and parents are often reluctant to surgically treat adolescent macromastia. However, reduction mammoplasty is a safe and effective treatment and may be the only way to alleviate the increased social, psychological, and physical strain caused by macromastia in adolescents.