Är bröstförstoring för alla kvinnor? En retrospektiv fenomenologisk studie på kvinnor som har genomgått en bröstförstoring
Breast augmentationPsychologyPsychological wellbeingBody-dissatisfactionBody-imageSelf-imageSelf-esteemPsykologiSocial Sciences
Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the reasons that motivate women to seek cosmetic breast augmentation surgery, to examine their self-concept and how they relate to their breasts.Methods: Ten female postoperative participants who have undergone an aesthetic breast augmentation surgery on private clinics were interviewed using an unstructured interview format. Self-report questionnaire was used as a complement to the interview. The purpose of this was to examine women's self-concept. Six female postoperative participants who have undergone a breast augmentation surgery on public clinic and had medically confirmed defect also completed the measures.Results: The results of the interview analysis showed that some participants experienced positive physical and psychological outcomes of surgery and some did not. Several main themes were identified relating to the initial reasons for performing surgery. The result of the self-report questionnaire shows that this group of women has higher scores then women in general population.Conclusions: Overall, breast augmentation patients appeared to be motivated to perform surgery by their feelings about their breasts, by their feelings about themselves in general and by their expectations that plastic surgery would improve their self-esteem, body- image, psychological wellbeing and other aspects of their life. Our findings provide information about possible risk factors that could predict whether patients will be satisfied or dissatisfied with the surgery outcome. These risk factors can help us to identify whether the patient is suitable or not to undergo plastic cosmetic surgery.