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Introduction: The breasts are symbols of femininity, sexuality, and maternity. Breast augmentation is among the most sought-after procedures for women and has a positive impact on quality of life. Sexuality is one of the items that contribute to increased quality of life. Surgical outcomes can be evaluated from the patients' perspective using developed and validated questionnaires. For the assessment of sexuality, the most commonly used instruments are the Female Sexual Quotient and the Female Sexual Function Index, which estimate several domains of sexuality and can be used to evaluate the impact of surgery on it., Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of breast augmentation on female sexuality., Methods: We selected 87 patients from the Plastic Surgery Outpatient Clinic of Hospital São Paulo (Federal University of São Paulo) who wished to undergo breast augmentation. The patients were classified into two groups: the Female Sexual Quotient questionnaire was applied to one group, and the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire was applied to the other group to evaluate sexuality preoperatively as well as at 2 and 4 months postoperatively., Results: In both groups, there was a significant increase in the total score of the Female Sexual Quotient and Female Sexual Function Index questionnaires, and an individual increase in each domain assessed, with a significant increase in the domains of orgasm and sexual satisfaction, as well as foreplay and arousal, indicating an improvement in the patients' sexuality postoperatively., Conclusion: Breast augmentation has a positive impact on female sexuality; furthermore, the Female Sexual Quotient and Female Sexual Function Index are sensitive in detecting this impact.

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the influence of different surgical treatment modalities on the level of physical activity, functional capacity, and quality of life of breast cancer survivors. One hundred eighty women aged 30-60 years old were selected and allocated to control group (CG, women without breast cancer, n = 45), breast-conserving surgery group (BCG, n = 45), mastectomy group (MG, n = 45), and breast reconstruction group (BRG, n = 45). Physical activity, functional capacity, and quality of life were assessed, respectively, using the following self-report questionnaires validated for use in Brazil: International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ-20), and Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). The groups were homogeneous relative to sociodemographic variables. The scores for physical activity (IPAQ) did not differ between CG and BRG, whereas they were better for CG than for BCG and MG (p = 0.0270). The results for functional capacity (HAQ-20) were better for CG than for MG (p = 0.0450), with no difference between the remaining groups. Differences were found for the SF-36 domains "physical functioning" (p < 0.01), "physical role functioning" (p < 0.001), "emotional role functioning" (p = 0.0174), and "general health" (p = 0.0307). CG and BRG differed significantly relative to the domains "physical role functioning" and "emotional role functioning" only. We concluded that patients who underwent breast reconstruction exhibited higher levels of physical activity and quality of life than patients subjected to mastectomy alone or breast-conserving surgery., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The aim of the present study was to conduct a cross-cultural adaptation (with translation into Brazilian Portuguese) and validation of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire-Bone Metastases-22 (EORTC QLQ-BM22)., Methods: Ninety-five bone metastasis patients (31 men and 64 women, mean age 58.36±8.90 years) took part in the investigation. The translation guide of the EORTC was used to translate from English into Brazilian Portuguese and adapt the instrument culturally. The reliability and the face, content and construct validities were tested., Results: Internal consistency was estimated using Cronbach's alpha for the total score, pain and functional subscales of the EORTC QLQ-BM22 (0.93, 0.86, 0.90). Reliability was analyzed by Pearson's correlation and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). The correlations were higher than the recommended value of 0.75, which indicated good test-retest reliability. Construct validity was demonstrated by correlation with the questionnaire medical outcome study questionnaire 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). It showed significant correlation between the fields of QLQ-BM22 and the SF-36 (P≤0.001)., Conclusions: The EORTC QLQ-BM22 was translated into Brazilian Portuguese, was culturally adapted and was proven to be reliable, with face, content and construct validity.

Background: Gynecomastia has an incidence of up to 60% of adolescents, causing pain and self-image disorders for the patient, leading to emotional and physical problems that can be reversed with treatment. This prospective case control study assessed the surgical treatment of gynecomastia and its impact on quality of life., Methods: Thirty-three patients aged 18-50 years and with 2-21 years of gynecomastia progression were included in the study. Adenectomy was performed. Preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively, patients completed the Brazilian version of the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) quality of life questionnaire., Results: There was improvement in the SF-36 domains of General Health, Functional Capacity, Social Aspects, Vitality, and Mental Health., Conclusion: The Short-Form 36 questionnaire demonstrated that surgical treatment of gynecomastia afforded positive changes in quality of life.

Background: Both physical health and psychosocial outcomes are important issues in the evaluation of medical treatment. Women with breast hypertrophy may suffer from low self-esteem and reduced functional capacity because of the size of their breasts., Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of reduction mammaplasty on self-esteem and functional capacity in patients with breast hypertrophy., Methods: One hundred patients with breast hypertrophy who ranged in age from 18 to 55 years and who had undergone no previous mammary surgery were selected from the Plastic Surgery Outpatient Clinic of the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP-EPM). They were randomly allocated into two groups (A and B) of 50 patients each. Patients from group A were submitted for reduction mammaplasty while those from group B were placed on the waiting list and used as a control group. At the beginning of the study, all patients were interviewed to collect clinical and demographic data and to have their self-esteem and functional capacity measured. Two Brazilian-validated versions of quality of life measurement instruments were chosen: the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Rolland-Morris (to assess functional capacity). A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate pain intensity. Six months after the beginning of the study, these instruments were again administered to both groups., Results: Forty-six out of 50 patients from each group (A and B) completed the study. The mean age of group A was 31.6 years (SD, 11 yrs), and that of group B was 32.3 years (SD, 10 yrs). The mean weight of removed breast tissue from group A patients was 1052 g (SD, 188 g). A decrease on the score of Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale of patients from group A indicated an improvement of self-esteem (P < .001). Functional capacity had improved 6 months after reduction mammaplasty (group A) as compared to the control group. Intensity of pain evaluated by the VAS in the lower back region decreased from 5.7 to 1.3., Conclusions: Reduction mammaplasty improved self-esteem and functional capacity and relieved pain in the lower back region in patients with breast hypertrophy.

Context and Objective: Body image improvement is considered to be the main reason for undergoing plastic surgery. The objective was to translate the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Examination (BDDE) into Brazilian Portuguese and to adapt and validate this questionnaire for use in Brazil., Design and Setting: Cross-sectional survey, at the Department of Plastic Surgery of Universidade Federal de São Paulo., Methods: The BDDE was first translated into Portuguese and then back-translated into English. These translations were then discussed by healthcare professionals in order to establish the final Brazilian version. In a second stage, the validity and reliability of the BDDE were assessed. For this, patients were initially interviewed by two interviewers and subsequently, by only one of these interviewers. On the first occasion, in addition to the BDDE, the body shape questionnaire (BSQ) and the Rosenberg self-esteem scale were also applied. These questionnaires were applied to 90 patients., Results: Six questions were modified during the assessment of cultural equivalence. Cronbach's alpha was 0.89 and the intraclass correlation coefficients for interobserver and test-retest reliability were 0.91 and 0.87, respectively. Pearson's coefficient showed no correlation between the BDDE and the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (0.22), whereas there was a moderate correlation between the BDDE and the BSQ (0.64)., Conclusions: The BDDE was successfully translated and adapted, with good internal consistency, reliability and construct validity.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of TRAM flap delayed breast reconstruction on health related quality of life in patients who had undergone mastectomy., Methods: Twenty-five patients following mastectomy were selected consecutively from the Plastic Surgery/Mastology Units of two university hospitals. All subjects underwent breast reconstruction with the use of pedicled TRAM flap. The patients' health related quality of life was assessed by a validated instrument, the SF-36 Health Survey Questionnaire. This was applied preoperatively and postoperatively at 3, 6 and 12-months follow-up. A group of 20 women with mastectomies who have not undergone breast reconstruction was used as a control. To assess patients' satisfaction with breast reconstruction we used Alderman's modified general satisfaction subscale., Results: There was a progressive improvement in all dimensions of the SF-36, and this was statistically significant for seven of the eight dimensions. The scores were significantly higher on 'role emotional' and 'mental health' at 3 months postoperatively, on 'health perception' and 'role physical' at month 6 and on 'physical function', 'pain', health perception and 'social function' at postoperative month 12. Despite the increase in scores, no significant changes in 'vitality' were found. There was no significant preoperative difference between the control group and studied patients, and the control group's scores were significantly lower in all dimensions when compared to postoperative month 12, except on 'physical function'. The level of patients' satisfaction with the TRAM flap breast reconstruction was high., Conclusions: The data of this study suggest that delayed breast reconstruction with the use of the pedicled TRAM flap provides an improvement in health related quality of life of patients who have undergone mastectomy.