Reduction mammaplasty: a medicolegal hazard?

In spite of the potential for complications and poor results, reduction mammaplasty remains a procedure with a high degree of patient satisfaction. Although thousands of cases are done annually, only a small percentage of the patients are unhappy enough to consider a law suit. A questionnaire was sent to the members of the ASPRS. Thirty-eight percent of the members responded and 11% indicated that they had been sued at least once for this procedure. A review of the results of the questionnaire and suggestions for reducing the number of dissatisfied patients are presented.