Questionnaire survey of patients undergoing breast augmentation in China / 中华医学美学美容杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To understand the psychology of patients undergoing breast augmentation, and to provide reference for preoperative communication between clinicians and patients.Methods:From September 2016 to September 2017, the Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital formulated a 37-question questionnaire based on BREAST-Q and Chinese national conditions, and investigated patients who planned to undergo breast augmentation in 34 hospitals.Results:A total of 2066 valid questionnaires were collected. Fifty-four percent of women were dissatisfied with their nude appearance, which was more dissatisfied compared with their appearance when dressed. Surgical safety (20.1%), surgical effect (16.8%), surgical method and incision selection (16.5%), breast implant material (14.5%) and doctor′s skill (11.6%) were the five most important factors for considering breast augmentation. Only 26.6% of the respondents were supported by their family members or partners when they made the decision to have breast augmentation. Most women had limited knowledge of breast augmentation, with only 24.9 percent of respondents having a thorough understanding of the procedure.Conclusions:Women undergoing breast augmentation have an urgent need to improve their appearance, and their decision-making process is affected by many factors, among which surgical safety is the most worrying factor for patients. This group of people have limited knowledge about surgery, and the popularization of breast augmentation by plastic surgeons remains to be strengthened.