Anxiety and subjective quality of life preoperatively and 4 months after reduction mammaplasty.

[OBJECTIVE] The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of anxiety, psychological distress, and subjective quality of life on the basis of the criteria of satisfaction and expectations in a group of women who had undergone reduction mammaplasty for cosmetic reasons.

[METHOD] The population consisted of 20 women who had requested breast reduction treatment [mean age, 34.70 (+/-10.94)] for cosmetic reasons. After being informed of the purpose of the study and after giving their written consent, the subjects took part in a psychological examination conducted at two different times (T1, initial medical consultation; T2, 4 months after surgery). At each of these stages, the psychological evaluation consisted of a clinical interview and questionnaires: the Subjective Quality of Life Profile, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the General Health Questionnaire.

[RESULTS] The results showed that the subjects improved significantly between T1 and T2 in terms of state anxiety (P=.04), trait anxiety (P=.002), sleeping disorders (P=.003), difficulty in enjoying their activities (P=.008), and a number of dimensions of subjective life quality: pain (P=.009), physical appearance (P=.003), social life (P=.03), and inner life (P=.03). The study showed that satisfaction with treatment was correlated with satisfaction with medical relations (P=.05) and medical information (P=.05) at T1 and with greater satisfaction with friendship relations (P=.05), sexual relations (P=.05), and inner life (P=.05) after the operation (P=.01). Conversely, a greater level of anxiety at T3 was correlated with reduced satisfaction with the surgical treatment (P=.05).

[CONCLUSION] This study demonstrates the importance of evaluating surgical and cosmetic treatment in terms of psychological dimensions and emphasizes the improvement in psychological well-being during the postoperative phase.