Investigating the quality of life of women with breast surgery: a qualitative study

Abstract

The current research aims to investigate the quality of life of women with breast surgery. The phenomenological method has been used in this research. In this method, the researcher sought those with rich experience of the investigated phenomenon and the desire to express it. Therefore, based on the research purpose, the sample was selected from married women aged 30 to 50 in Shiraz who underwent cosmetic surgery for 6 months. Sampling until saturation, when no new information is obtained during the interview and ends. The results indicated two main areas of factors affecting breast surgery and women's quality of life after breast surgery, each of which included its own conceptual categories. Factors affecting breast surgery included seven subgroups: social factors, relationships with spouse, physical factors, psychological factors, body perception, normative pressures, and economic and social bases. Also, women's quality of life after surgery included five subcategories: satisfaction with marital relationships, social factors, physical factors, psychological factors, and body image. The results indicated that the factors influencing breast surgery in this research were physical factors, body perception, and normative pressures. According to the investigation of the quality of life of women after the operation, breast surgery improved marital relations by increasing sexual attractiveness and sexual satisfaction, reducing physical problems, favorable body image, and increasing self-confidence in women. At the same time, breast surgery did not affect the periods of depression and social factors of women. In general, it can be concluded that breast surgery causes a favorable body image, increases self-confidence, improves physical condition, and improves the quality of life in women.