Global Study Highlights Emotional and Practical Drivers of Breast Augmentation

Despite high satisfaction rates reported among breast augmentation recipients, uptake of the procedure remains relatively low worldwide. A new multinational study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum identifies key emotional motivators and perceived barriers influencing women’s decisions about breast augmentation.

Researchers first conducted qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 24 women aged 18 to 65, followed by a larger quantitative study involving 798 participants across the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, and China. Participants included women who had undergone the procedure, were considering it, or had not considered it at all.

The most frequently cited drivers were dissatisfaction with breast appearance and a desire for improved self-esteem and confidence. In the quantitative phase, participants who had pursued or were considering breast augmentation reported an average of 6.5 concerns or barriers. Prominent among these were safety fears—both regarding the surgical procedure and the implants—concerns about potential complications, and the financial cost of surgery.

The Net Promoter Score (NPS), used to assess satisfaction and likelihood of recommending the procedure, was 49 among women who had undergone breast augmentation. Of these, 62% were classified as “promoters”—individuals highly likely to recommend the procedure to others.

“Given the mix of positive and negative drivers that impact women’s decisions regarding breast augmentation, it is essential that physicians educate potential patients regarding surgical details, possible outcomes, and potential procedure-related complications,” the authors wrote.