Survey Stats
Prepared
by
R.L. Larue, President
InfoVision Systems
Recency of Surgery - Age - Height & Weight Size Increase - Type of Implant - Texture - Implant Shape - Incision Placement - Size - Brand - Worst Part - Pain - Sensation - Reactions
T-1 Recency of Surgery
Total Sample (N=195)
This survey is heavily skewed toward those with a recent implant surgery experience; i.e., 80% report having had a breast implant surgery during the past 6 months or less.
T-2 Age
Net:
The majority of survey respondents to this survey are under 35 years old (67%); and 86% are under 40 years of age. As expected those who have had implants for 3 or more years tend toward an older age distribution.
T-3 Height & Weight of Respondents
Revised Sample (N=120)
Over half of those who responded to this survey weigh 124 pounds or less; and 83% weigh 134 or less -- indicating (alongside the height measures) that breast augmentation surgery is more heavily purchased by those of a slender build (see next table).
T-4 Size Increase
Revised Sample Weight
NET:
According to this survey, the majority of implant purchasers are naturally size A cup (62%); and 72% choose to increase 2 or more sizes.
T-5 Type of Implant
As expected, Saline implants are purchased by the vast majority of those surveyed (93%) -- except for those with implant purchases 3 or more years ago when Silicone was still more heavily used (45% Saline, 54% Silicone). 3 In addition, this data reflects a greater likelihood of reported complications from those who have Silicone implants relative to the percentage who have these implants, and a lower proportion of reported complications (81%) from those with Saline, relative to those who have Saline implants (93%). (*) page 5T-6 Texture of Implant
Implant Texture
It appears from these data that textured implants (while still selected by half of those surveyed) is down somewhat from its share of the market 3 years ago--and there appears to be a slightly higher proportion of reported complications by women with textured implants relative to the percentage who have them (*)
6T-7 Shape of Implant
REASON FOR SHAPE SELECTION:
Round appears to be the shape of choice (75%), as well as appearing to be up in market share over 3 years ago (*).
Surgeons appear to favor and recommend round implants over other choices; i.e., 85% of the survey respondents who purchased round implants report making this decision based on their doctors recommendation. Round implants also appear to have a slightly lower incidence of reported complications relative to the proportion who have these implants (*).
7T-8 Location of Incision
About half of those surveyed report having surgical incisions under the breast (52%), followed by those with incisions at the nipple (31%) -- an apparent change from those with implants 3+ years ago, where the majority report incisions at the nipple (53%) followed by under the breast (40%). 3 Incision at the armpit appears a more recent procedural trend, but seemingly correlates with higher rates of reported complications (25.7%). (*)
8T-9 Placement of Implant
Under the muscle appears to be the emerging placement trend compared to respondents with implants 3+ years ago. The majority report implants placed under the muscle (78.8%) -- and a higher relative degree of reported complications under the muscle as well (94.1%). (*)
9T-10 Size of Implant
The majority of those surveyed report purchasing an implant that is less than 400cc (73.7%), with about half purchasing implants that are between 300-399 cc.
10T-11 Brand
Revised Sample (N=122)
NET: Brand Identified 49.1
11T-12 "Worst part of the surgery"
These are coded categories created from open-ended comments (i.e., respondents answered this question using their own words to describe what they considered the worst part of the surgery - unprompted). Total Sample (N=195).
Results may exceed 100% due to multiple response.
Post-op recovery - and mainly "the pain" is reportedly the worst part of the surgery (see next Table).
12T-13 Pain Scale
On a 1-6 Scale: 1= Minimal; 6="Felt like I was hit by a truck"
Over half of those surveyed rate the pain they experienced from the surgery at the top end of the scale (4,5,6 combined). The younger women seem to rate the pain factor higher and worse than the older women, as do those who report having had complications.
BRUISED: Yes 50.3
13T-14 Nipple Sensation
The majority report some change in nipple sensation -- and this remains essentially the same across time as apparent in the responses of women with implants 3+ years ago.
14T-15 "Comments"
These are coded categories created from open-ended comments.
Results may exceed 100% due to multiple response.
Survey skewed toward those having just recently had implants (80% 6 months or less).
Total Sample (N=195) COMMENTS: %
NET: Positive Comments 46.8
I'd do it again 31.9
I'm happy with the results 25.5
I feel better about myself 23.4
NET: Negative Comments 31.9
Feel ridges 17.0
Complications (general) 7.4
Need correction 7.4
Too high (waiting to drop) 7.4
Bad look 4.3
Capsular Constriction/hardening 3.2
Eating through 2.1
Deflated 1.1
OTHER MISC:
Surgery motivated after nursing 21.3
"Wish I'd gone bigger" 14.9
Husband/boyfriend appeal 11.7
I'm choosing to redo (generally larger) 8.5
Overall, the open ended comments of women who participated in this survey are highly positive, favorable, and supportive. Interestingly, even those who report experiencing problems and complications (in a very few cases severe), seem by and large to offer a positive attitude about the surgery and the results (see samples of extracted comments in appendix).
15T-16 "I had this surgery for..."
Total Sample (N=195)
The majority clearly consider they are choosing the surgery for themselves, and indeed, there were a number of comments that suggested that a husband or boyfriend was (at least initially) not in favor of the procedure (although most add that this person was still supportive of her decision to have the surgery.)
16T-17 "Negative Comments/Influence?"
"Have you had any negative comments about having a breast augmentation?"
Revised Sample (N=73)
The majority of those surveyed do not seem to be concerned with (nor for the most part do they report) negative comments from others. From the content review, these women's concern over negative comments from others appears negligible, and indeed many provide positive responses to this question.
17T-18 SIZE SATISFACTION PROFILE
The vast majority (virtually all those surveyed) report being happy with the results of the breast implant surgery -- and regardless of any complications, discomfort or social factors. In fact, 94% say they are happy with the results (including 76% of those who reported complications and who nonetheless report being happy overall with the results). While conducting the content review, it was clear that many survey participants said that they wished they had "gone bigger". This shows as 24% of the responses to this question (above), and is also contained within other open-ended comments where a good number of women said they "would do it again in a heartbeat - only bigger", and other such favorable comments suggesting interest and intention to do more augmentation in the future.
18T-19 Age
68.8% of those responding to this survey had not yet purchased implants and the remaining already had
Total Sample (N=32)
*This survey is heavily skewed toward young women (83.9% under 35).
19T-20 SOCIAL INFLUENCES SURVEY
Reasons for Considering Breast Implants
Total Sample (N=32)
*'Self-esteem by virtue of looking better through augmented breasts is clearly the main reason women participating in this survey report considering the purchase of breast implants.
20T-21 "Why Haven't You Purchased Implants Yet"
(based to those who have not yet purchased)
Pre-Purchase Sub-Sample (N=22)
CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE KNOWING?
21T-22 Perceived Social Pressure on Looks
Asked a series of questions about women's perceived social cultural pressure on looks.
Total Sample (N=32)
Answers to these questions suggest (for the most part) that the women who are considering breast augmentation feel influenced by social pressure on women's looks. These questions are not suitably asked or scaled to conduct any more in-depth analysis of the psychographic and socio-cultural influences toward considering breast augmentation.
* Questions were added or deleted over the year long course of collecting data, and as a result some questions were only asked and answered by a smaller than total sample (revised sample).
* Tables with a small number of respondents (N of 50 or less) should only be interpreted as a general apparent difference and not an actual statistical difference.
Breast Surgery ->Breast Implants Survery Stats
