Swedish Normative Scores for the BREAST-Q Reduction/Mastopexy Module

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Patient-Reported Outcomes
• Quality of Life Research

Background:

• Interpreting patient-reported outcomes requires normative data from the general population.
• Breast-related satisfaction and quality of life scores need established benchmarks for meaningful evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish Swedish normative values for the BREAST-Q reduction/mastopexy module.
• To identify specific aspects of breast appearance and physical symptoms that influence satisfaction in healthy women.

Main Methods:

• A random sample of 400 women (aged 18-80) in Region Västra Götaland received the BREAST-Q reduction/mastopexy questionnaire.
• Descriptive data were collected and analyzed from the returned questionnaires.

Main Results:

• 146 women (36.5% response rate) completed the survey, with mean total scores ranging from 48 to 78.
• Breast satisfaction was highest for appearance when dressed and lowest for appearance when naked. Physical symptoms like neck/shoulder pain and low energy were common.
• High BMI was associated with lower breast satisfaction, while age did not show a clear correlation with scores.

Conclusions:

• The established norms for the BREAST-Q reduction/mastopexy module aid in evaluating surgical outcomes.
• These normative values contribute to understanding normal breast satisfaction and quality of life in women.