BODY-IMAGE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SEQUELAE OF SILICONE BREAST EXPLANTATION- PRELIMINARY FINDINGS

Twenty-two breast explantation (implant removal) and 20 cholecystectom y patients were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively and compar ed with 20 nonsurgical control subjects on several body-image measures , depression, self-esteem, and self-reported health status. Explantati on patients had higher breast anxiety and upper torso dissatisfaction than either control group and levels were unaffected by implant remova l. The discrepancy between self-rated ideal and current breast size in creased substantially after implant removal for the explantation group , but did not change for controls. Overall appearance satisfaction lev el and positive appearance-related cognitions decreased as a function of surgery for explantation patients, but remained unchanged in cholec ystectomy and nonsurgical controls. Depression levels were elevated in explantation patients and did not change as a function of surgery; se lf-reported health status level improved for the explantation group, b ut levels still remained below those of both control groups after expl antation. Therapeutic indications for the elevated depression levels a nd unique body-image issues that patients undergoing explantation expe rience are discussed.