title: Motivational factors and psychological processes in cosmetic breast augmentation surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated how and why prospective cosmetic breast augmentation patients decide to undergo such surgery. The results can offer important insights to plastic surgeons in addressing their patients' motives and expectations, and thereby avoiding potential patient dissatisfaction and disappointment. It is also a necessary first step to better understand the increasing tendency among women in the Western society to seek cosmetic breast augmentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative, descriptive and phenomenological design was employed. Fourteen female prospective breast augmentation patients, aged 19-46 years, were recruited from a private plastic surgery clinic and interviewed in depth based on an informant-centred format. The interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded and analysed phenomenologically using a QSR-N*Vivo software program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We detected four psychological processes associated with cosmetic breast augmentation surgery (create, improve, repair and restore). The data could further be categorised into one basic drive (femininity), six generating factors (appearance dissatisfaction, ideal figure, self-esteem, comments, clothes and sexuality) and five eliciting factors motivating the decision (media, knowledge of former patients, physicians, finances and romantic partner).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These new insights into how and why women seek cosmetic breast augmentation may aid plastic surgeons in enhancing their communication with patients. This can be achieved by addressing the patient's psychological process and motives, and thereby better assist them in making the best decision possible in their particular situation. It may also lay the groundwork for future quantitative studies on the prevalence of certain motives for undergoing such surgery and, as such, help explain the increasing popularity of cosmetic breast-augmentation surgery.
authors.affiliation: Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway; Lovisenberg Hospital, Oslo, Norway. anettess@gmail.com
authors.forename: Anette S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Solvi
authors.forename: Kaja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Foss
authors.forename: Tilmann
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: von Soest
authors.forename: Helge E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Roald
authors.forename: Knut C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Skolleborg
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult