Summary
This research program is concerned with the psychological effect of the mammary reduction and augmentation, both on cosmetic indications. 31 reduction patients and 25 augmentation patients were interviewed with a biographic questionnaire, a personality questionnaire and an attitude measurement scale. Except for the biographic questionnaire these instruments were administered twice: before and after the operation. The resulting data were compared with those of two control groups. It is concluded that women who want to be operated on their breasts on cosmetic indications are normal persons. Not being happy with the shape of their breasts is their only psychosocial characteristic. This unhappiness is eliminated after the operation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Druss, R.G.: Changes in body image following augmentation breast surgery. Int. J. Psychoanal. Psychother. 2, 248 (1973)
Edgerton, M.T., Meyer, E., Jacobson, W.E.: Augmentation mammaplasty. II. Further surgical and psychiatric evaluation. Plast. reconstr. Surg. 27, 279 (1961)
Gorman, W.: Body image and the image of the brain. St. Louis: Green 1969
Jensen, A.: The Maudsley Personality Inventory. Acta Psychol. (Amst.) 14, 314 (1958)
Kaye, B.L.: Micromastia vs. macromastia. Med. Asp. Hum. Sexual. 7, 96 (1973)
Kinsey, A.C., Pomeroy, C.E., Martin, C.E.: Sexual behavior in the human male. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co. 1948
Menninger, K.: Somatic correlations with the unconscious repudiation of femininity in women. J. nerv. ment. Dis. 89, 514 (1939)
Osgood, C.E., Suci, G.J., Tannenbaum, P.H.: The measurement of meaning. Urbana, Ill.: University of Illinois Press 1957
Reich, J.: The surgery of appearance: Psychological and related aspects. Med. J. Aust. 5, 5 (1969)
Renneker, R., Cutler, M.: Psychological problems of adjustment to cancer of the breast. J. Amer. med. Ass. 148, 833 (1952)
Reznikoff, M.: Psychological factors in breast cancer: A preliminary study of some personality trends in patients with cancer of the breast. Psychosom. Med. 17, 96 (1955)
Wilde, G.J.S.: Neurotische labiliteit gemeten volgens de vragenlijstmethode. Amsterdam: Van Rossen 1963
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This paper was read at the third Congress of the European Section of the International Plastic and Reconstructive Society on May 25, 1977 in the Hague.
The author wishes to thank Prof. Dr. A.J.C. Huffstadt, Groningen for his kind cooperation.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Groenman, N.H. Psychological effects of aesthetic surgical breast procedures. Chir Plastica 4, 95–101 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00264542
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00264542