Factors Influencing Patient Satisfaction With Breast Augmentation: A BREAST-Q Effect of Magnitude Analysis

BACKGROUND: Breast augmentation is one of the most performed cosmetic surgeries. Despite this, patient satisfaction following breast augmentation is poorly understood.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate what patient and surgical factors influence patient satisfaction following primary breast augmentation.

METHODS: The BREAST-Q Augmentation module was sent to all females undergoing primary breast augmentation at a single private clinic (Amalieklinikken, Copenhagen, Denmark) between 2012 and 2019. Patient and surgical characteristics at the time of surgery were obtained from the patients' medical records, and data on factors that occurred after the surgery (eg, breastfeeding) were obtained by patient contact. Multivariate linear regression modeled the impact of these factors on BREAST-Q outcomes.

RESULTS: A total of 554 females with a mean follow-up time of 5 years after primary breast augmentation were included in this study. Implant type and volume did not affect patient satisfaction. However, higher patient age was associated with significantly higher postoperative patient satisfaction, psychosocial well-being, and sexual well-being (P < .05). Conversely, higher patient BMI, postoperative weight gain, and breastfeeding were associated with significantly lower satisfaction (P < .05). Additionally, subglandular implant placement was associated with significantly lower satisfaction than submuscular implant placement (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS: Implant type and volume did not affect patient satisfaction with breast augmentation. However, young age, higher BMI, subglandular implant placement, and postoperative weight gain were associated with lower patient satisfaction. These factors should be considered when aligning outcome expectations with breast augmentation.