The effect of cosmetic surgery on mental self-image and life satisfaction in women undergoing breast augmentation: An intermediate role of evaluating the surgery as one of the most important life events

• Published in: Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery reconstructive & aesthetic surgery, 2022-06, Vol.75 (6), p.1842-1848
• Main Authors: Wojtkowska, Anna, Zaborski, Daniel, Modrzejewski, Andrzej, Pastucha, Maciej
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Appearance; Body image; Female; Humans; Mammaplasty; Patient Satisfaction; Personal Satisfaction; Quality of Life; Self Concept; Self-perception; Surgery, Plastic; Surveys and Questionnaires; Women's health
• ISSN: 1748-6815; 1878-0539
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2022.01.018

Aim: To estimate changes in self-perception and satisfaction in women undegoing breast augmentation surgery (BAS). Methods: Using a quasi-experimental questionnaire study design, we enrolled a cohort of BAS women treated at a private clinic during a 5-year interval. The primary predictor variable was treatment (before/after). The main outcome variables included effect of considering breast augmentation as one of the most important life events on self-image (BAOMILE), and subjective evaluation of physical appearance and life satisfaction. Other study variables were demographic data. The Mann–Whitney and the Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare the outcomes between before and after the surgery. The Spearman rank correlation and the Pearson chi-squared test were computed to analyze the relationships among variables. Results: The sample consisted of 53 subjects (52.3% married; 40.9% from medium-sized towns) with a mean age of 33.2 ± 6.4 years (range, 21–46). Life satisfaction was significantly increased after BAS in the whole cohort (preop., 7.83 vs. postop., 8.42; P = .003; 95% CI, –0.95 to –0.22) as well as in the BAOMILE subgroup (preop., 7.87 vs. postop., 8.56; P = .011; 95% CI, –1.20 to –0.17). Within the BAOMILE subgroup, there was a positive correlation between the appearance assessment and the number of positive traits before surgery (ρ = 0.63; P = .002; 95% CI, 0.27–0.83) and life satisfaction after surgery (ρ = 0.480; P = .03; 95% CI, 0.06–0.74). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that BAS improves self-perception and life satisfaction of the patients. The psychologist's role in understating patient's motivation for cosmetic surgery and the revision of their attitudes towards expected effects require further investigations.