A teenage girl has been successfully operated on after a rare condition caused her breasts to swell to over a quarter of her body weight.
The patient, aged 15, had noticed her chest growing dramatically for two years before medics were able to intervene.
Despite no significant previous medical history, she was diagnosed with juvenile gigantomastia – a rare breast development abnormality occurring during puberty, resulting in extremely oversized breasts.
READ MORE: Dying man runs into street in flames as family accuse partner of ‘setting him ablaze’
In this patient’s case, her chest weighed a staggering 2.5st (36lbs) – over a quarter of her entire body weight (9st 7lbs).
The 5’2 adolescent was suffering from chronic lower back pain, posture and walking issues as a result.
The condition also saw “marked psychological distress” due to body image issues, leading her to withdraw from socialising, as reported by Need To Know.
Preoperative appearance of extreme juvenile gigantomastia showing severe bilateral breast hypertrophy and marked ptosis (frontal and lateral views). (Picture: Jam Press)
Doctors removed around 17lbs of tissue from each breast in a procedure that lasted seven hours.
Within a week of the initial surgery, the teen reported “complete resolution” of back pain, improved mobility and psychological progress.
Due to partial necrosis of the nipple, reconstructive surgery was delayed seven months, but involved a graft using skin from the groin area.
The case was shared in a recent medical journal, with the patient treated at a hospital in Oujda, Morocco.
READ MORE: Missing model found dead in reservoir days after walking catwalk
Intraoperative views following reduction mammoplasty using the Thorek technique with free NAC grafting. (Picture: Jam Press)
Postoperative appearance at 8-month follow-up showing satisfactory breast contour and stable NAC reconstruction. (Picture: Jam Press)
