Measuring quality of life in women undergoing surgery for breast hypertrophy

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to describe the outcomes associated with reduction mammaplasty in terms of physical parameters and health-related quality of life. A prospective cohort study was designed and included women undergoing bilateral breast reduction surgery at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, who consented to participate. Women were evaluated preoperatively for symptoms, physical parameters, quality of life (Short Form [SF]-36 and Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire [MBSRQ]) and general demographic characteristics that were identified as potential confounders. Postoperatively, women were re-evaluated at six months for symptoms, physical parameters and quality of life. A total of 74 women were entered in the study. Their average age was 32.3 years, and the mean mass of resected volume per breast was 630 g. There was a statistically significant improvement in symptoms six months after surgery (P<0.05). There was also a statistically significant improvement in the physical component summary scale of the SF-36 and several additional subscales: bodily pain, physical functioning, role-physical, and vitality. The MBSRQ subscale of appearance evaluation was significantly increased (2.69 compared with 3.12, P=0.000), whereas the appearance orientation subscale was unchanged. The amount of tissue removed did not appear to correlate with the change in physical symptoms or health-related quality of life resulting from the surgery. This study showed significant improvement in physical and psychological aspects of health-related quality of life in women undergoing reduction mammaplasty.