Factors contributing to patient-reported satisfaction with breast augmentation six months postoperatively

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Breast augmentation is a common cosmetic procedure with generally high patient satisfaction.
• Variability in patient satisfaction necessitates identifying key influencing factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify determinants of patient satisfaction following primary breast augmentation.
• To understand the variance in satisfaction with breast outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter observational cohort study included 1058 primary breast augmentation patients (2016-2021).
• Patient satisfaction was measured using the BREAST-Q (Breast-Q) at six months postoperatively.
• Hierarchical multivariable regression analyses assessed 27 determinants across patient, anatomical, implant, and outcome variables.

Main Results:

• Patient, preoperative, and postoperative breast characteristics, along with preoperative BREAST-Q scores, explained only 6% of satisfaction variance.
• Inclusion of postoperative BREAST-Q scores increased explained variance to 34%.
• Greater age, higher preoperative satisfaction, better clinician visual analogue scale (VAS) appearance, and improved postoperative psychosocial, physical, and sexual well-being were associated with higher satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Traditional patient, anatomical, and implant characteristics have limited impact on breast augmentation satisfaction.
• Postoperative well-being and clinician assessment significantly influence patient satisfaction.
• Further research is needed to explain the substantial unexplained variance in patient satisfaction.