Improvement in quality of life and self-esteem after breast reduction surgery.

BACKGROUND: Breast reduction surgery is sought by patients who have physical and psychological symptoms. This study assessed the quality of life and self-esteem before and after breast reduction surgery.

METHODS: Thirty patients with a diagnosis of mammary hypertrophy who were consecutively selected to undergo breast reduction and aged between 18 and 54 years (mean = 32.65 years, SD = 9.87) participated in the study. Diagnosis was performed by breast measurements associated with symptoms related to excessive breast size. Patients completed the SF-36 Quality of Life Inventory and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale before the procedure and 30 and 120 days after surgery. The nonparametric sign test and Fisher's exact test were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS: There was significant improvement (p < or = 0.05) in all domains of quality of life and in self-esteem when scores before and after surgery were compared.

CONCLUSION: Both self-esteem and quality of life significantly improved after breast reduction surgery.