Sexuality in Aesthetic Breast Surgery.
BACKGROUND
The breasts are important for a woman's psychological well-being, which may be negatively affected by distortions of breast size and shape. Improvements in self-esteem and sexuality are important psychological factors associated with motivation for cosmetic surgery. Mammaplasty is among the most sought-after and performed cosmetic procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of aesthetic breast surgery on a woman's sexuality.


METHODS
This study was conducted in a plastic surgery clinic of a hospital university in Brazil, between 2009 and 2012. Forty-six patients with hypomastia and 30 patients with breast hypertrophy, who expressed the desire for aesthetic breast surgery, were selected for the study. The patients were assessed preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively using the sexual quotient-Female version scale (QS-F). The QS-F is a validated Brazilian questionnaire to assess sexual function. It contains ten items covering five domains of female sexual function: desire and interest, foreplay, excitement and harmony, comfort, and orgasm and satisfaction. Higher QS-F scores indicate better sexual functioning.


RESULTS
There was a significant increase in the mean total QS-F score after surgery in both groups (p < 0.001). No significant improvement in desire and comfort was reported by patients who underwent breast augmentation and in comfort by patients who underwent breast reduction. Improvement in sexuality after surgery was observed in both groups, which is consistent with the literature.


CONCLUSIONS
Aesthetic breast surgery has a positive impact on the sexuality of patients.


METHODS
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Division of Plastic Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros 715, 4o. andar, São Paulo, CEP 04024-002, Brazil. pa.cirurgia@gmail.com.
Paulo Afonso Monteiro Pacheco
PA
Guimarães
Division of Plastic Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros 715, 4o. andar, São Paulo, CEP 04024-002, Brazil.
Vanessa Contato Lopes
VC
Resende
Division of Plastic Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros 715, 4o. andar, São Paulo, CEP 04024-002, Brazil.
Miguel
M
Sabino Neto
Division of Plastic Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros 715, 4o. andar, São Paulo, CEP 04024-002, Brazil.
Caroline Lumy
CL
Seito
Division of Plastic Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros 715, 4o. andar, São Paulo, CEP 04024-002, Brazil.
Maria José Azevedo
MJ
de Brito
Division of Plastic Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros 715, 4o. andar, São Paulo, CEP 04024-002, Brazil.
Luiz Eduardo Felipe
LE
Abla
Division of Plastic Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros 715, 4o. andar, São Paulo, CEP 04024-002, Brazil.
Daniela Francescato
DF
Veiga
Division of Plastic Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros 715, 4o. andar, São Paulo, CEP 04024-002, Brazil.
Lydia Masako
LM
Ferreira
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000523:psychology*; D019529:Sexuality
Breast; Mammaplasty; Plastic surgery; Quality of life; Sexual health; Sexuality