BREAST-Q Study Tracks Quality-of-Life Gains After Breast Augmentation

A prospective study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal suggested sustained improvements in several patient-reported outcomes during the first year after primary breast augmentation.

Researchers evaluated 44 women undergoing primary breast augmentation using the validated Polish version of the BREAST-Q. Participants completed assessments before surgery and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively, allowing investigators to track changes in quality of life and breast satisfaction over time.

BREAST-Q Scores Improve Through 12 Months After Breast Augmentation

Psychosocial well-being increased from a mean score of 50.8 ± 19.8 before surgery to 91.5 ± 12.6 at 12 months. Sexual well-being similarly increased from 47.1 ± 22.9 to 87.5 ± 14.9 at 12 months. Physical well-being scores declined temporarily at 3 months after breast augmentation before recovering to near-baseline levels at the 12-month assessment. Satisfaction with breasts also increased substantially over the follow-up period, according to the investigators.

The authors reported 1 major complication among the 44 participants and no cases requiring reoperation. The relatively small cohort and 12-month follow-up limit the extent to which the findings can characterize uncommon complications or longer-term patient-reported outcomes.

“Primary breast augmentation leads to significant and sustained improvements in patient-reported quality of life and satisfaction,” the authors wrote. “Despite a transient decline in physical well-being, recovery occurs over time. These findings support breast augmentation as a safe and effective intervention for improving patient-reported outcomes.”

Source

Wojcik K, et al. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2026. Doi:10.1093/asj/sjag192