Surgery for the psyche: a longitudinal study of women undergoing reduction mammoplasty.

This study suggests that surgery is effective in relieving the psychological distress of women requesting reduction mammoplasty for minimal deformity. Eleven young women who applied for operation on the NHS completed measures of psychoneurosis, mood, self-esteem and body perception. Prior to operation they had a distorted body image, low self-esteem and abnormal psychoneurotic profiles. Following surgery body image returned to a normal range; their self-confidence, and view of their femininity and sexual attractiveness were also enhanced. Improvement was maintained during 6 months of follow-up. These results have implications for the NHS provision of cosmetic surgery for such patients.