Older women may experience more complications because of age-related changes in hormone levels, according to the report. The researchers looked at 1,192 women who underwent breast reduction surgery between 1999 and 2009 and discovered that the post-surgery infection rate for women over 50 was 2.7 times higher than for those under 40.
Women over 50 also had more problems with wound healing, with led to a higher incidence of surgical debridement to remove areas of dead skin. The researchers also found that old women using hormone replacement therapy were less likely to experience post-surgical infections, while infection rates were higher in those who had undergone hysterectomy or removal of the ovaries.
The findings suggest that age is a factor in assessing the risk of complications after breast reduction surgery.
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