Top Six Concerns for Women About Breast Surgery

Research Shows Plastic Surgery Patients Have Similar Needs

Jul 28, 2009 Katherine Brind'Amour

A study of nearly 50 women undergoing breast surgery identified six areas in which each patient's surgery impacted her quality of life and satisfaction with her care.

A recent study of a group of Swedish women who had undergone plastic surgery for breast augmentation, reduction, or reconstruction had a common set of concerns, according to a research article published this May by BioMed Central.

The researchers hope that the common themes important to the patients in the study will help inform other health care providers of the issues they should keep in mind or address when working with women seeking or recovering from breast surgery.

Each of the following points is discussed by Klassen et al in detail in "Satisfaction and quality of life in women who undergo breast surgery: A qualitative study," published online May 1, 2009.

Satisfaction with Breasts

One common concern of women undergoing surgery included the appearance, shape, feel, and "normalcy" of breasts, including how they looked in bras and under clothing or how they had improved in appearance compared to pre-surgery.

Satisfaction with Overall Outcome

Women were also eager to talk about their level of satisfaction with the surgery and outcome as a whole, discussing whether or not they regretted the breast surgery and their general opinion of the results.

Psychosocial Wellbeing

Participants in the research indicated a change in self-esteem, confidence, and comfort with their own bodies, regardless of the purpose of the surgery. For many, it affected their feelings of femininity and self-worth, and for women undergoing breast reconstruction the surgery was sometimes able to offer a sense of closure and emotional recovery from the stress of breast cancer and disfigurement.

Sexual Wellbeing

Women typically felt that their surgery resulted in an improved sex life and increased feelings of sensuality and attractiveness.

Physical Wellbeing

Particularly for breast reduction and reconstruction patients, surgery can impact physical activities and reduce pain, embarrassment, discomfort, and other physical restrictions that their breasts may have placed on their activities in the past.

Satisfaction with the Process of Care

This topic in the study looked at the patients' feelings regarding the quality of information they received prior to the operation, as well as the quality of the relationship between the patient and her surgeon and/or the patient and the rest of the medical staff.

Using the Concerns of Breast Surgery Patients to Improve Care

While every patient is different, the themes identified in this research can contribute to improved care plans for women seeking breast surgery. Armed with information about the most important issues for such patients, medical professionals and staff members can address the needs of these women by assuring that the health care workers are considering these topics from the beginning of the patient-doctor relationship.

In addition, knowing that these are areas of concern for such patients, researchers and physicians can take steps toward research that clarifies the effects of breast surgery in the lives of patients.

By analyzing their comments regarding process of care as well as the principle reasons for undergoing such surgery, it is likely that researchers can make some headway in improving the experience for women and determining the most appropriate candidates for surgery.

Additional Resources:

Henry, David. "6 Risk Factors for Breast Cancer." Suite101.com.

"Breast Reconstruction." Medline Plus.

The copyright of the article Top Six Concerns for Women About Breast Surgery in Women’s Health is owned by Katherine Brind'Amour. Permission to republish Top Six Concerns for Women About Breast Surgery in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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