Breast Hypertrophy, Reduction Mammaplasty, and Body Image

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Psychology
• Body Image Research

Background:

• Body image dissatisfaction is a key driver for plastic surgery.
• Limited research exists on the link between body satisfaction and reduction mammaplasty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effect of breast hypertrophy and reduction mammaplasty on patients' body image.
• To compare body image outcomes between women undergoing reduction mammaplasty and those with normal-sized breasts.

Main Methods:

• Prospective evaluation of 103 women with breast hypertrophy scheduled for reduction mammaplasty (mammaplasty group, MG).
• Utilized Body Dysmorphic Disorder Examination (BDDE), Body Investment Scale (BIS), and Breast Evaluation Questionnaire (BEQ55).
• Compared MG with 103 women with normal-sized breasts (normal-sized breast group, NSBG) at baseline and six months post-surgery.

Main Results:

• MG showed significant improvements in BDDE, BIS, and BEQ55 scores six months post-operation (P ≤ 0.001).
• NSBG exhibited no significant changes in scores over time.
• Post-surgery, MG demonstrated increased body investment and surpassed NSBG in body satisfaction and image.

Conclusions:

• Reduction mammaplasty effectively enhances body image in women experiencing breast hypertrophy.
• The procedure leads to greater body satisfaction and investment, improving self-perception.