Does Liposuction Improve Body Image and Symptoms of Eating Disorders?

BACKGROUND: Unpleasant attention to unfavorable fat may have harmful psychological effects in terms of body dissatisfaction. As a consequence, this may cause abnormal eating regulation. It has been noted that women interested in liposuction self-report more eating problems. As far as we know, there are no prospective studies with standardized instruments providing sufficient data regarding the effects of aesthetic liposuction on various aspects of quality of life. Nevertheless, publications on the effects of eating habits are lacking. METHODS: Sixty-one consecutive women underwent aesthetic liposuction. Three outcome measures were applied at baseline and at follow-up: the eating disorder inventory, Raitasalo's modification of the Beck depression inventory, and the 15-dimensional general quality of life questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean age at baseline was 44 years, and the mean body mass index was 26.0. Thirty-six (59%) women completed all outcome measures with a mean follow-up time of 7 months. A significant improvement from baseline to follow-up was noted in women's body satisfaction, and their overall risk for developing an eating disorder decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: Aesthetic liposuction results in a significantly reduced overall risk for an eating disorder in combination with improved body satisfaction.

Abdominoplasty improves quality of life, psychological distress, and eating disorder symptoms: a prospective study.

Background. Only some studies provide sufficient data regarding the effects of nonpostbariatric (aesthetic) abdominoplasty on various aspects of quality of life. Nevertheless, when considering the effects on eating habits, publications are lacking. Therefore we decided to assess the effects of nonpostbariatric abdominoplasty on eating disorder symptoms, psychological distress, and quality of life. Materials and Methods. 64 consecutive women underwent nonpostbariatric abdominoplasty. Three outcome measures were completed: the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), Raitasalo's modification of the Beck Depression Inventory (RBDI), and the 15D general quality of life questionnaire. Results. The mean age at baseline was 42 years and the mean body mass index (BMI) 26.4. Fifty-three (83%) women completed all the outcome measures with a mean follow-up time of 5 months. A significant improvement from baseline to follow-up was noted in women's overall quality of life, body satisfaction, effectiveness, sexual functioning, and self-esteem. The women were significantly less depressive and had significantly less drive for thinness as well as bulimia, and their overall risk of developing an eating disorder also decreased significantly. Conclusions. Abdominoplasty results in significantly improved quality of life, body satisfaction, effectiveness, sexual functioning, self-esteem, and mental health. The risk of developing an eating disorder is decreased significantly. This trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02151799.

The effects of aesthetic breast augmentation on quality of life, psychological distress, and eating disorder symptoms: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: There are only a few studies that provide sufficient data regarding the effects of aesthetic breast augmentation on various aspects of quality of life. Significant improvement in body image, satisfaction with appearance, sexual attractiveness, and self-esteem has been observed in these studies. In contrast, however, a somewhat impaired general health-related quality of life has been reported at follow-up. Nevertheless, when considering the effects of aesthetic breast augmentation on eating habits, publications are lacking. We therefore decided to assess the effects of aesthetic breast augmentation on quality of life, psychological distress, and eating disorder symptoms. METHODS: This study included 79 consecutive women who underwent bilateral aesthetic augmentation mammaplasty. The women completed three outcome measures at baseline and at follow-up: the Eating Disorder Inventory, Raitasalo's modification of the Beck Depression Inventory, and the 15D general quality-of-life questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean age at baseline was 35 years (range = 18-52). The mean body mass index was 21.3 (range = 17.5-27.3). Sixty-five (82 %) women completed the outcome measures with a mean follow-up time of 7 months (range = 4-13). A significant improvement was observed in self-esteem and depression scores as well as body satisfaction from baseline to follow-up. Interpersonal trust also improved, and after the operation the women were more able to tolerate and understand their own feelings and sensations. A significant decrease in the overall risk for an eating disorder was also noted. CONCLUSIONS: Aesthetic breast augmentation results in significant improvement in women's body satisfaction and self-esteem. The level of risk for an eating disorder is also significantly reduced. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article.

The cost utility of reduction mammaplasty at medium-term follow-up: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: The effects of reduction mammaplasty (RM) have been proved in several randomised trials. However, publications regarding cost utility are infrequent and lacking with regard to medium-term follow-up. Therefore, we decided to assess the cost utility of RM at 2-5 years' follow-up, when later costs and possible re-operations have been incurred. METHODS: A total of 73 patients had bilateral RM between January 2005 and March 2007 in the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Finland. Health-related quality of life was measured with the 15D. Preoperative data were collected with an interview at an appointment and follow-up data by means of a postal survey. Direct hospital costs were obtained from the Ecomed(®) clinical patient administration database (Datawell Ltd., Espoo, Finland). RESULTS: A total of 62 (85%) patients agreed to participate in the study and returned the follow-up questionnaire. The mean follow-up time was 4.0 years (SD 0.53, range 2.3-4.6 years). The mean improvement in the 15D score change was 0.083 (SD 0.081). The mean number of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained was 3.052 (SD 3.167, range 2.561-17.553). The mean hospital costs of the intervention were €3601 (SD 1321), and the mean cost per QALY gained was €1180. Roughly 76% of the costs were due to the hospital stay during the operation. Eight percent of the costs were incurred more than 6 months after the hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: The cost per QALY gained by RM is low, even when considering later costs caused by possible re-operations, and compares favourably with a number of other surgical procedures.

The outcome of reduction mammaplasty remains stable at 2-5 years' follow-up: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: Several randomised studies have proved the effectiveness of reduction mammaplasty in short-term follow-up. However, medium-term prospective follow-up studies are rare. Therefore, a prospective study was conducted to assess the medium-term results and to see whether there are any changes in the intervention effect during the first years. METHODS: A total of 73 patients were operated on between January 2005 and March 2007. Patients completed the 15D health-related quality-of-life questionnaire, The Finnish Breast-Associated Symptoms (FBAS) questionnaire and Raitasalo's modification of the short form of the Beck Depression Inventory (RBDI). In July 2009, follow-up data was collected by postal mail. RESULTS: As many as 62 patients (85%) agreed to participate in the study and returned the follow-up data. Non-responders did not differ from responders in baseline characteristics. Mean follow-up time was 4.0 years (range, 2.3-4.6). Preoperatively, patients had significantly inferior quality of life when compared with the age-standardised population (p < 0.001). This health burden was removed after reduction mammaplasty. At follow-up, patients had significantly better quality of life, less breast-associated symptoms, less depression and anxiety and better self-esteem when compared with the preoperative situation (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Reduction mammaplasty results in remarkable alleviation in breast-associated and psychological symptoms, and improvement in quality of life. This remains clearly significant and stable at 2-5 years follow-up.

Reduction mammaplasty is effective treatment according to two quality of life instruments. A prospective randomised clinical trial.

PURPOSE: Debate around reduction mammaplasty has continued due to lack of prospective randomised clinical trials (RCTs). Therefore, a prospective randomised clinical trial was designed to assess the effectiveness of reduction mammaplasty performed for symptomatic breast hypertrophy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 82 patients were randomised, 40 patients to the operative group, and 42 patients to the nonoperative group. Groups were examined at 0 and 6 months. Instruments used were the Short Form-36 quality of life questionnaire (SF-36), the 15D quality of life questionnaire, the Finnish Breast-Associated Symptoms questionnaire (FBAS), and the Finnish Pain Questionnaire (FPQ). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was applied for instrumental data comparison. RESULTS: 29 patients in the operative group and 35 patients in the nonoperative group completed the study. Mean age was 46 years. At second examination, the utility index score (SF-6D) and the physical summary score of SF-36, the index score of 15D, the breast-associated symptoms score of FBAS, and the pain score of FPQ demonstrated high significant statistical (P<0.0001) and clinical difference between groups. For the mental summary score of SF-36 findings were less significant statistically and clinically. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction mammaplasty results in significant improvement of quality of life and decrease in pain and breast-associated symptoms. Future studies should be focused on patient selection and justification of the treatment by comparing with other approved treatments.