Increase In Self-Esteem, Functionality Seen In Patients After Breast Reduction

Findings from a study
published in the July/August 2008 issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal
show a marked improvement in quality of life for patients who underwent
breast reduction surgery, indicating that benefits of the procedure go
beyond the mere aesthetic result.



One hundred patients with breast hypertrophy were chosen to participate
in the study, and randomly allocated into two groups. One group was
selected to undergo breast reduction, while the other was put on a waiting
list and served as a control group. At the beginning of the study, all
patients were interviewed to collect demographic information, as well as to
measure their self-esteem and functional capacity. The Rosenberg
Self-Esteem Scale and Rolland-Morris (widely used self-esteem measures)
were used for these quality of life measurements. Pain intensity was also
measured using a visual analog scale. These measurements were evaluated
again six months after the surgery.



After surgery, a decrease in the score on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem
Scale indicated a marked improvement in self-esteem in these patients
versus those in the control group. Functional capacity had also improved in
this group of patients, who also reported a significant decrease in
intensity of pain in the lower back. It is reasonable to conclude that
these improvements were brought about by the breast reduction surgery.



"Patients seek out breast reduction surgery for many reasons, not the
least of which is to ease pain and discomfort associated with having larger
breasts," said Miguel Sabino Neto, MD, Ph.D., a plastic surgeon in Sao
Paolo, Brazil and lead author of the study. "However, there is also an
emotional discomfort as well, including low self-esteem, social and sexual
embarrassment, and frustration with difficulties in performing daily
routines. It was our goal to determine quantitatively whether these
emotional issues improved, as well as the physical."



According to statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic
Surgery (ASAPS), 153,087 breast reduction procedures were performed on
women in 2007.



"This study further demonstrates that the connection between the
aesthetic results of plastic surgery and the emotional, social and physical
quality of life of our patients cannot be underestimated," said Alan H.
Gold, MD, President of ASAPS. "These findings will go a long way towards
helping us to evaluate and better understand the implications of the impact
of plastic surgery on patients' lives, and serve as an example of our
commitment to evidence based medicine and outcome studies in aesthetic
surgery."



About ASJ



The Aesthetic Surgery Journal is the peer-reviewed publication of the
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and is the most
widely read clinical journal in the field of cosmetic surgery, with
subscribers in more than 80 countries.



About ASAPS



The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the leading
organization of board-certified plastic surgeons specializing in cosmetic
plastic surgery. ASAPS active-member plastic surgeons are certified by the
American Board of Plastic Surgery or the Royal College of Physicians and
Surgeons of Canada. surgery


American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

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