Factors impacting informed consent in cosmetic breast augmentation

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Health Psychology
• Medical Decision Making

Background:

• Patient understanding of breast augmentation risks and revision surgery likelihood may not align with post-operative reality.
• Informed consent processes may not adequately convey all risks and financial implications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore women's comprehension, risk preferences, and perceptions of breast augmentation.
• To assess the impact of varying risk information during consultations on patient understanding and willingness to recommend the procedure.

Main Methods:

• Online experiment with 178 women (18-40 years) simulating a first consultation with breast surgeons.
• Participants received different amounts of risk-related information.

Main Results:

• Pre-information risk preferences influenced by age, health, income, education, and openness.
• Emotional stability correlated with higher perceived risk, lower recommendation likelihood, and greater acknowledgment of revision surgery.
• Increased risk information raised risk assessment and decreased recommendation willingness, but did not increase perceived revision likelihood.
• Post-information risk assessment was impacted by education, having children, conscientiousness, and emotional stability.

Conclusions:

• Improving informed consent for breast augmentation is essential for patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
• Emphasizing disclosure of risks and financial burdens associated with complications is important.
• Further research is needed on factors influencing patient understanding throughout the breast augmentation informed consent process.