Quality of life, personality changes, self esteem, and emotional stability after breast augmentation

Background: Although breast augmentation is a common intervention in esthetic surgery, there aren't enough reports evaluating accurately patients' satisfaction retrospectively. In a previous study, we evaluated the quality of life in patients undergoing esthetic surgery. In the present study, we split up the operative indication and examined the quality of life, self-esteem, and emotional stability after breast augmentation only. Methods: Seventy-three patients underwent esthetic breast augmentation (1995-2009) were included in the study. The testing instruments consisted of a self-developed indication specific questionnaire especially for breast augmentation and three widely used standardized questionnaires (FLZM, FPI-R, and the RSES), which can be compared to norm data. Results: Although expected by just 11 % preoperatively, an improved sexuality was stated by 71 % of the patients postoperatively. A very high percentage (74 %) of the participants declared a better quality of life overall. Both of these findings were parallel confirmed by the FLZM. Significantly increased values were found for the following FLZM items: "housing/living conditions" (p=0.008), "partner/sexuality" (p=0.042), "mobility" (p=0.019), and "independence from help/care" (p=0.026). In the module "Satisfaction with Appearance/Body Image", satisfaction with breasts (p<0.001) and 10 further body parts increased significantly. The data revealed by the FPI questionnaire and the RSES questionnaire showed that participants' emotional stability was very well balanced and their self-esteem very high. Conclusions: Breast augmentation is a common surgical intervention widely accepted and very well tolerated among female patients, achieving a better quality of life, due to significant changes to their sexuality, satisfaction with their body image, and personal well-being. Level of Evidence: Level III, risk/prognostic study.