BACKGROUND

The effects of breast reduction on quality of life (QOL) have been evaluated in patients with macromastia, but few investigators have performed condition-specific assessments.

OBJECTIVES

The authors employed generic and condition-specific questionnaires to examine the QOL of patients with macromastia and determined the responsiveness of the Turkish version of Breast Reduction Assessed Severity Scale (BRASS).

METHODS

This prospective cohort study included patients with breast hypertrophy who underwent breast reduction (n = 94). Patients completed the Turkish versions of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the BRASS, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale preoperatively and 4 months postoperatively. Differences in responses were evaluated by paired t-test and by comparing change effect sizes. Multiple regression analyses were performed to evaluate improvements in QOL in response to adjustments in baseline differences across patients.

RESULTS

Preoperative and postoperative questionnaires were completed by 78 patients (83%). Significant postoperative improvements in self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale; P < .001) and in all domains of the BRASS (P < .001) were noted. Mean preoperative scores for 5 of 8 domains in the SF-36 were lower than those of a normative population. Postoperatively, all 5 mean scores improved significantly, but the score for bodily pain remained less than that of a normative population.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicate significant improvements in health-related QOL at 4 months after breast reduction in a population of patients with macromastia. The authors also demonstrate excellent responsiveness of the BRASS.