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Motivational Factors in Women Seeking Augmentation Mammoplasty Across Different Age Groups: A Cross-Sectional Survey

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  • Breast Surgery
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Abstract

Background

Augmentation mammoplasty is one of the most common esthetic procedures worldwide. A wide range of motivations leads women to undergo this procedure, among them socioeconomic status and age group. The aim of this study was to identify the motivation spectrum for augmentation mammoplasty through different age groups.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional prospective survey given to Israeli women seeking augmentation mammoplasty consults in a hospital and private clinic settings, using a 17-item Motivation for Augmentation questionnaire. Three motivation domains were examined: appearance, sexuality and social. Study participants were divided into three age groups: 18–29, 30–39 and over 40 years.

Results

A total of 101 women participated in the study. Motivations were rated similar among all age groups. Appearance and sexuality domains were rated significantly higher compared with the social domain throughout all age groups (3.28 ± 0.91 and 3.15 ± 1.03 vs. 1.88 ± 1.16, p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

Motivations in Israeli women seeking breast augmentation do not change with age. The desire to improve one’s appearance and sexuality is more prominent than improving social and work status.

Level of Evidence IV

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.

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Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel

    Matan Sherf, Itay Wiser, Dov Klein & Lior Heller

  2. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Matan Sherf, Itay Wiser, Dov Klein & Lior Heller

Authors
  1. Matan Sherf
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  2. Itay Wiser
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  3. Dov Klein
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  4. Lior Heller
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matan Sherf.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Appendix: The Motivation for Augmentation Questionnaire (MAQ)

Appendix: The Motivation for Augmentation Questionnaire (MAQ)

Questionnaire

We are conducting a study in our clinic to assess the motivational factors that led you to undergo augmentation mammoplasty. The objectives of our study are: (1) demographic characterization of women seeking breast augmentation surgery and (2) reviewing the reasons that lead women to undergo augmentation mammoplasty.

The questionnaire is anonymous without any identifying details.

We would be grateful if you help us by filling this questionnaire.

General details

figure a
figure b

Motivation for Augmentation Questionnaire (MAQ)

Below there is a list of reasons leading women to undergo breast augmentation surgery. Please state, on a scale of 1–5 how much do you agree with each reason:

  

Not at all

To a little extent

To some extent

To a large extent

Totally agree

21

Feel more attractive

1

2

3

4

5

22

Make self more attractive

1

2

3

4

5

23

Feel more proportional

1

2

3

4

5

24

Feel more feminine

1

2

3

4

5

25

Wear more types of clothes

1

2

3

4

5

26

Wear clothes more freely

1

2

3

4

5

27

Feel more balanced

1

2

3

4

5

28

Become less preoccupied with my physical state

1

2

3

4

5

29

Improve sexual relations

1

2

3

4

5

30

Look more like a “normal” woman

1

2

3

4

5

31

Simplify shopping

1

2

3

4

5

32

Make life easier

1

2

3

4

5

33

Improve dating relations

1

2

3

4

5

34

Improve social relations

1

2

3

4

5

35

Improve marital relations

1

2

3

4

5

36

Improve family relations

1

2

3

4

5

37

Improve work relations

1

2

3

4

5

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Sherf, M., Wiser, I., Klein, D. et al. Motivational Factors in Women Seeking Augmentation Mammoplasty Across Different Age Groups: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Aesth Plast Surg 42, 941–950 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-018-1100-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-018-1100-7

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