Assessment of the quality of life in patients with breast hypertrophy before and after reduction mammoplasty

Abstract

Introduction: To evaluate the results of breast reduction using the BREAST-Q® instrument. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of 83 patients with breast hypertrophy who were treated at the Plastic Surgery Service of the University Hospital of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora. The subjects were older than 18, were literate, and underwent surgery between July 2013 and August 2015. We administered the BREAST-Q® reduction mammoplasty/mastopexy questionnaire, both during the preoperative period and at 6 months after surgery. The Student’s t-test was used to evaluate the significance of changes in breast satisfaction and the psychosocial, physical, and sexual well-being of the patients. Results: Seventy-nine patients (95.1%) completed the pre- and postoperative questionnaires. Significant postoperative improvements were observed in breast satisfaction and the psychosocial, physical, and sexual well-being. Age, amount of breast tissue removed, and nutritional status did not influence the results. Surgical complications were observed in 10 patients (12.04%). Conclusion: The BREAST-Q® showed that patients who underwent breast reduction surgery achieved a significant improvement in quality of life and were satisfied with the surgical outcome, hospital care, and nipple appearance in the late postoperative period.