Does large breast problem and macromastia surgery affect a woman's body image, depression level, sexual life, and quality of life? A prospective study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the change in the body perception, sexual life, quality of life, and depression levels in women undergoing a reduction mammaplasty due to breast hypertrophy problem. METHODS: This descriptive and comparative study was carried out prospectively with 34 women who were diagnosed with breast hypertrophy in a public hospital in the province of Kayseri between 1 April and 31 December 2019 and agreed to participate in the study. The data were collected via the self-reporting method using the Introductory Information Form prepared in line with the literature, Preoperative Data Collection Form, Postoperative Data Collection Form, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Quality of Life Questionnaire, Body Perception Scale (BPS), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS: In the preoperative period, 97.1% of the women with breast hypertrophy reported health complaints related to breast hypertrophy, 91.2% need to take a shower frequently, 85.3% social problems like shame and stigma, 85.3% exercise intolerance, and 79.4% sense of dislike. It was determined that general health complaints of these women decreased in the postoperative third month and they obtained significantly high scores from the FSFI, BDI, BPS, and all subscales of the SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire, except from the mental subscale (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that there were remarkable improvements in the mental, physical, social, and sexual areas of women with breast hypertrophy after the reduction mammaplasty.