Purpose: Within this study the improvement of life quality in patients after surgery for breast reduction should be evaluated.
Material and method: In total 70 patients, who had undergone an operation for breast reduction in the University Women's Hospital of Heidelberg from May 1998-June 2000, were chosen for this study. They were invited to an interview with three different standardized questionnaires concerning life quality. In total the questionnaires of 37 patients could be evaluated. They were about 12 months after operation.
Results: It could be shown, that all patients had a significant improvement of their functional symptoms, the main part of them were totally free of symptoms after the operation. Most patients felt more female than before. They regarded themselves as more active, productive and sociable. This resulted in an improved self-confidence. In both groups the improvement was based mostly on a release of their functional complaints such as pain in th back or in the shoulders, but also on the psychological relief of the physical shame. The reduction of the breast masses, which were before well hidden by clothes, led to an improved self-confidence and self-assurance.
Conclusion: Either women, who underwent the operation due to medical reasons, as well as women, who had mainly esthetic reasons for the operation, reach an improvement of life quality after surgery. The reached satisfaction of the patients and the improvement of life quality were absolutely independent from the weight of the resected tissue.