Systematic Review of Patient Satisfaction Following Mastopexy Surgery

Mastopexy is a technique that repositions the nipple-areolar complex to a more aesthetically desirable position within the profile of the breast. The BREAST-Q is a vital tool that can be used to assess patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Given the known importance of PROM following mastopexy surgery, we aim to provide a systematic review of the literature to summarize the available information and provide direction for further optimization of patient care and research.

A systematic review was performed using the Ovid (MEDLINE/PubMed) database in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses checklist. The inclusion criteria comprise studies in the English language from 1976 to 2024, female patients only, and studies reporting patient satisfaction following mastopexy or augmentation mastopexy. Case reports, studies without validated PROMs, animal studies, conference proceedings, and bariatric patients were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist.

A total of 10 studies qualified for qualitative synthesis of data, and meta-analysis was performed where possible. A total of 510 patients underwent mastopexy procedures. The mean ages across studies ranged from 31 to 54 years. Mean body mass index values were reported in 6 studies, ranging from 20 to 27 kg/m². The mean follow-up duration varied from 6 to 38 months. Inconsistent data across all studies significantly limited the meta-analysis.

Mastopexy procedure leads to higher rates of patient satisfaction and quality of life. This analysis has highlighted the need for more consistent PROM reporting in mastopexy surgery.