Patient Satisfaction and Clinical Outcomes Following 414 Breast Reductions: Application of BREAST-Q

Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2017 Apr;41(2):245-249. doi: 10.1007/s00266-016-0774-y. Epub 2017 Jan 7.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to measure breast satisfaction and quality of life using the BREAST-Q Reduction Module in a large sample of postoperative patients having breast reduction using the inverted T technique.

Methods: With due approval from the ethics committee of our university, 414 patients who were seen in consultation for breast reduction surgery between 2005 and 2015 performed by the same team were asked to fill out BREAST-Q surveys. The patient factors collected for all those undergoing breast reduction included age, body mass index, incision pattern, areola complex pedicle used, amount of tissue resected, concurrent procedures, and complications.

Results: At our Department of plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery, 414 women underwent reduction mammoplasty with the inverted T technique from 2005 to 2015. All patients answered the BREAST-Q reduction mammoplasty postoperative module. Postoperative patients who presented with severe hypertrophy and asymmetry Grade C were more satisfied than others.

Conclusions: Our study represents the largest number of patients who answered the BREAST-Q reduction mammoplasty module. The goal of breast surgery should be the attainment of patient satisfaction with good breast volume, shape, and symmetry.

Level of evidence iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors. http://www.springer.com/00266.

Keywords: BREAST-Q; Plastic surgery; Quality of life; Questionnaire; Reduction mammoplasty.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Breast / pathology
  • Breast / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertrophy / surgery
  • Mammaplasty* / methods
  • Patient Reported Outcome Measures*
  • Patient Satisfaction*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Treatment Outcome