The majority of women who undergo breast reduction surgery are satisfied with the results, according to a recent survey. A total of 125 women who had undergone reduction mammoplasty were polled in the study, which assessed their feelings on the procedure six months after it had taken place and again one year later.
After six months, nearly 90 per cent of women rated the outcome of their cosmetic surgeries as “good” or “very good”. One year on, the figure had decreased but was still high at 80 per cent. Additionally, surgeons themselves were asked to rate the outcomes by comparing standard before and after photos, with around 75 per cent giving a “good” or “very good” rating.
The study also found that patients and surgeons consider different factors to be important in the outcome of breast reduction surgery. The majority of women were concerned about asymmetry between the breasts, while surgeons were critical of visible scars and technical details of the procedure. Older women were more likely to be critical of their results than younger patients, and the amount of information they had received prior to the procedure was linked to overall levels of satisfaction.
“The better the information and the higher the confidence level, the better was the outcome,” said lead author Dr Line Bro Breiting of Herlev Hospital in Denmark. “One must not underestimate the importance of factors like preoperative information about the surgery and complications, together with proper and qualified care.”
The news follows a separate study published in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), which found that women who undergo breast augmentation surgery report substantial improvements in several key areas affecting their quality of life.
More than 80 per cent of women said they had experienced a “significant improvement” in their satisfaction with their breasts, their psychosocial well-being and their sexual well-being. ASPS member surgeon Colleen M McCarthy said: “More than ever before, it is vital to provide reliable and valid evidence regarding patient outcomes of breast augmentation, especially … health-related quality of life and patient satisfaction.”
According to ASPS statistics, more than 300,000 women underwent cosmetic breast augmentation in the US last year.
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