Corrective Breast Surgery in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Retrospective Patient-Reported Outcome Study Using the BREAST-Q Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND

Breast corrective surgery has been on the rise in the adolescent population in recent years. Data regarding the effects of surgery on quality of life (QOL) and satisfaction in this patient population are required for accurate risk-benefit evaluation. The objective of this study was to assess the satisfaction and effect of breast corrective surgery on QOL in the adolescent and young adult population, using the validated BREAST-Q questionnaire.

METHODS

Included were all patients aged 21 and under, who underwent breast corrective surgery due to macromastia, breast asymmetry and gynecomastia during the years 2013-2021. Pre- and postoperative BREAST-Q questionnaires were retrospectively completed. QOL and satisfaction measures were assessed and compared before and after surgery.

RESULTS

Fifty-two patients were included, of whom 24 (46.2%) underwent asymmetry correction, 18 (34.6%) underwent reduction mammoplasty and 10 (19.2%) underwent gynecomastia repair. A significant improvement in psychosocial well-being, sexual well-being and satisfaction with the breasts was recorded following surgery in all groups. Physical well-being scores were improved for patients following breast reduction and gynecomastia repair only. Within the breast asymmetry group, correction with implants was associated with decreased physical well-being, while correction without implants was associated with improved physical well-being and the difference between these two subgroups was statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study suggest that in adolescents and young adults, breast corrective surgery including reduction mammoplasty, asymmetry correction and gynecomastia repair is associated with high satisfaction scores and improved QOL according to the BREAST-Q questionnaire.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .