title: The magnitude of effect of cosmetic breast augmentation on patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of the magnitude of clinical change in health-related quality of life and patient satisfaction brought about by cosmetic breast augmentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, longitudinal study was performed. Women undergoing cosmetic breast augmentation were asked to complete the BREAST-Q Augmentation module both before and after augmentation. Before and after group-level comparisons included paired t tests and effect size statistics. The responsiveness of the BREAST-Q scales was also compared at the individual person level by computing, for each and every person, the significance of her own change in measurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 41 patients completed the BREAST-Q before and after augmentation. Patients reported that "satisfaction with breasts," "psychosocial well-being," and "sexual well-being" were significantly higher following augmentation compared with preoperative levels (p = 0.00, p = 0.00, and p = 0.00, respectively). These statistically significant change scores were associated with large effect sizes (d = 2.4, 1.7, and 1.9, respectively). Significant improvements in satisfaction with breasts, psychosocial well-being, and sexual functioning were seen in 38 (83 percent), 36 (88 percent), and 33 (81 percent) of individuals, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the BREAST-Q Augmentation module detected significant benefits of breast augmentation surgery, as assessed by both group-level and individual-level responsiveness indices. Importantly, this finding strongly supports the hypothesis that cosmetic breast augmentation can have a significant and profound positive impact on a woman's satisfaction with her breasts and her psychosocial and sexual well-being.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, IV.
authors: New York, N.Y.; Plymouth, United Kingdom; and Hamilton, Ontario, and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada From the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, McMaster University, and University of British Columbia.
authors: Colleen M
authors: CM
authors: McCarthy
authors: Stefan J
authors: SJ
authors: Cano
authors: Anne F
authors: AF
authors: Klassen
authors: Amie
authors: A
authors: Scott
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Van Laeken
authors: Peter A
authors: PA
authors: Lennox
authors: Peter G
authors: PG
authors: Cordeiro
authors: Andrea L
authors: AL
authors: Pusic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019928:Breast Implantation / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult