To clarify the applied anatomy of Chinese female breasts, to improve the breast reduction mammoplasty, and to compare the quality of life in women with symptomatic macromastia before and after reduction mammoplasty with the modified round block technique.

The blood supply and innervation of the nipple-areolar complex were dissected in 6 Chinese adult females (12 breast specimens). Special attention was paid to the Würinger horizontal septum and the medial and lateral ligaments. The specific beneficial effects of reduction mammoplasty were evaluated with the modified round block technique, and a general questionnaire the Short Form-36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) was used in this study, which has good reliability and validity. The scores of the patients before and after the surgery were collected respectively.

In 12 breast specimens, there existed Würinger horizontal septum and the medial and lateral ligaments. The blood supply and nerve innervation of nipple-areolar complex went along Würinger horizontal septum. In all the patients enrolled, SF-36 showed significant higher quality of life after the operation with regard to 7 of 8 investigated domains. Role of emotion increased most significantly. Increased self-esteem and increased personal and public self-consciousness after surgery were observed.

The incidence of postoperative complications is reduced after using the modified round block technique. Patients have a higher degree of satisfaction overall. These data are further evidence that breast hypertrophy is not solely an esthetic problem. The reduction mammoplasty with the modified round block technique is an ideal technique.

Applied anatomy of breast; Macromastia; The round block technique; Reduction mammoplasty; Quality of life