Quality of Life and Self-Image of Women Who Undergo Breast Surgery for Cosmetic Reasons

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine to what extent breast augmentation contributes to body-image satisfaction and quality of life in women who had undergone breast augmentation. After signing a consent form to participate in the study, a convenience sample of 48 women before (n = 20) and after breast augmentation for cosmetic reasons (n = 28) were recruited from a plastic surgery clinic in Israel. In addition, 19 women matched according to age, education, and family status were recruited as controls. The mean age of participants was 28.2 (SD = 6.37) years, all had more than 12 years of education. Participants were administered a self-report anonymous questionnaire that included the following measures: depression, body image, and quality of life. Results indicated that body image was significantly positively correlated with quality of life among the overall sample. Following breast augmentation for cosmetic reasons, women showed lower level of depression. Quality of life was found to be influenced significantly by the level of depression and marginally by body image. Women who turned to surgery had higher level of depression compared to controls.