title: Does Time Affect Patient Satisfaction and Health-Related Quality of Life After Reduction Mammoplasty?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A total of 62,611 patients with breast hypertrophy underwent breast reduction surgery in 2013 in the United States to improve their symptoms and health-related quality of life. While multiple studies utilizing various outcome instruments demonstrate the efficacy of reductive surgery, it is presently unknown how the postoperative course affects patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life as measured by the BREAST-Q. Our objective was to determine the temporal relationship of patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life after reduction mammoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients prospectively completed the BREAST-Q reduction mammoplasty module at 3 time points during their treatment: preoperatively, at less than 3 months postoperatively, and at more than 3 months (<12 months) postoperatively. A single surgeon (N.P.P.) performed all of the breast reduction procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each time point contained 20 questionnaires. Mean preoperative BREAST-Q scores were significantly lower than scores at the less than 3-month postoperative time point for the scales Satisfaction With Breasts, Psychosocial Well-being, Sexual Well-being, and Physical Well-being (P < .001). There was no significant difference in BREAST-Q scores between the postoperative time points in these measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breast reduction surgery offers a vast improvement in patients' satisfaction and health-related quality of life that is maintained throughout the postoperative period. These findings can assist surgeons in managing patient expectations after reduction mammoplasty and help improve the probability of obtaining prior authorization for insurance coverage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY.
authors.forename: Wess A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Homel
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY.
authors.forename: Nima P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Patel
keywords: BREAST-Q; breast; breast reconstruction; patient-reported outcomes; quality of life
references.citation: J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2008 Dec;61(12):1472-8
references.pmid: 17983882
references.citation: Mayo Clin Proc. 2001 May;76(5):503-10
references.pmid: 11357797
references.citation: J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2012 Oct;65(10):1298-304
references.pmid: 22658727
references.citation: Plast Reconstr Surg. 2006 Feb;117(2):351-8
references.pmid: 16462312
references.citation: Ann Plast Surg. 2012 Oct;69(4):361-3
references.pmid: 22964671
references.citation: Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007 Jul;120(1):13-26
references.pmid: 17572539
references.citation: J Adolesc Health. 2013 Jul;53(1):112-7
references.pmid: 23523309
references.citation: J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2014 Jul;67(7):932-8
references.pmid: 24860932
references.citation: Ann Plast Surg. 2000 Dec;45(6):575-80
references.pmid: 11128753
references.citation: J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2009 Dec;62(12):1647-9
references.pmid: 18951077
references.citation: Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009 Aug;124(2):345-353
references.pmid: 19644246
references.citation: Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007 Sep 15;120(4):823-837
references.pmid: 17805107
references.citation: Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2010 Feb;34(1):59-64
references.pmid: 19768493
references.citation: Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007 Apr 1;119(4):1149-1156
references.pmid: 17496584
references.citation: Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013 Jul;132(1):48e-60e
references.pmid: 23806954
references.citation: Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg. 2009;43(2):65-70
references.pmid: 19308855
references.citation: Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013 Aug;132(2):304-315
references.pmid: 23897329
references.citation: Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013 Aug;132(2):285-290
references.pmid: 23584622
references.citation: Ann Plast Surg. 2014 Jan;72(1):23-9
references.pmid: 24346219
references.citation: Eplasty. 2012;12:e22
references.pmid: 22582119
references.citation: Br J Surg. 2006 Mar;93(3):291-4
references.pmid: 16363021
references.citation: Ann Plast Surg. 2000 Feb;44(2):125-33; discussion 133-4
references.pmid: 10696037
references.citation: Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2005 Nov-Dec;29(6):496-502
references.pmid: 16328641