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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)
| Recency of Surgery when taking
Survey |
% |
| Less than 1 week |
26.9 |
| 1-2 weeks |
15.0 |
| 3 weeks-2 months |
28.5 |
| 2 1/2-6 months |
9.8 |
| 7-11 months |
3.1 |
| 1 year |
6.2 |
| 2 years |
2.6 |
| 3-6 years |
3.6 |
| 7 or more years |
4.1 |
| NET |
% |
| 2 weeks or less |
42.0 |
| 2 months or less |
70.4 |
| 6 months or less |
80.3 |
| 1 year or less |
89.6 |
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
| Age |
Total Sample (N=195) |
w/ Implants 3+ yrs (N=15) |
| 18-24 |
14.4 |
13.3 |
| 25-29 |
27.3 |
13.3 |
| 30-34 |
25.3 |
20.0 |
| 35-39 |
19.1 |
6.7 |
| 40+ |
13.9 |
46.7 |
Net:
| Under 30 |
41.8 |
26.7 |
| Under 35 |
67.0 |
46.7 |
| Under 40 |
86.1 |
53.3 |
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)
| HEIGHT: |
% |
| 5'4" or less |
41.7 |
| 5'5"-5'6" |
29.2 |
| 5'7" or taller |
29.2 |
| WEIGHT: |
% |
| 110 lb or less |
20.2 |
| 111-134 lb |
63.0 |
| 135 lb or more |
16.8 |
| NET: 124 or less |
58.0 |
| NET: 134 or less |
83.2 |
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
| SIZE: |
124lb or Less (N=50) |
(N=17) |
| From A to B |
8.0 |
17.6 |
| From A to C |
50.0 |
52.9 |
| From A to D |
4.0 |
-- |
| From B to C |
18.0 |
11.8 |
| From B to D |
18.0 |
17.6 |
| From C to D |
2.0 |
-- |
NET:
| From A to any size |
62.0 |
70.5 |
| From B to any size |
36.0 |
29.5 |
| From C to any size |
2.0 |
-- |
| 2 or More Sizes |
72.0 |
|
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
| Type |
Total Sample(N=141) |
Implants > 3 yrs. (N=11) |
w/ Complications (N=26) |
| Saline |
92.9 |
45.5 |
80.8 |
| Silicone |
5.7 |
54.5 |
15.4 |
| Soy |
1.4 |
-- |
3.8 |
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
| Kind |
Total Sample(N=195) |
Implants > 3 yrs. (N=15) |
w/ Complications (N=35) |
| Textured |
50.6 |
61.5 |
57.1 |
| Smooth |
49.4 |
38.5 |
42.9 |
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
| Shape |
Total Sample (N=195) |
Implants > 3 yrs. (N=15) |
w/ Complications (N=35) |
| Round |
75.0 |
66.7 |
63.6 |
| Anatomical |
25 |
33.3 |
36.4 |
REASON FOR SHAPE SELECTION:
| Doctor Recommended |
65.8 |
doctor recommended ROUND specifically |
84.6% |
| Liked Look |
15.2 |
|
|
| More Natural Look |
15.2 |
|
|
| Fuller Look |
11.4 |
|
|
| Fit my Body Type |
7.6 |
|
|
| Researched as best |
5.1 |
|
|
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
| Location |
Total Sample (N=195) |
Implants > 3 Years (N=15) |
With Complications (N=35) |
| Under breast |
52.1 |
40.0 |
40.0 |
| Nipple |
30.9 |
53.3 |
31.4 |
| Armpit |
14.9 |
6.7 |
25.7 |
| Belly Button |
2.1 |
-- |
2.9 |
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
|
Placement
|
Total Sample (N=195)
|
Implants > 3 Years (N=15)
|
With Complications (N=35)
|
| Under Muscle |
78.8 |
60.0 |
94.1 |
| Over Muscle |
21.2 |
40.0 |
5.9 |
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
| Size |
Total Sample (N=195) |
Implants > 3 Years (N=15) |
With Complications (N=35) |
| Less than 200cc |
1.7 |
|
|
| 200-299cc |
20.0 |
|
|
| 300-399cc |
52.0 |
|
|
| 400-499cc |
20.0 |
|
|
| 500-599cc |
5.1 |
|
|
| 600cc + |
1.1 |
|
|
| NET: Less than 300cc |
21.7 |
20.0 |
20.0 |
| NET: Less than 400 cc |
73.7 |
80.0 |
73.0 |
| NET: 400+cc |
26.3 |
20.0 |
26.7 |
| Don't Know Size |
10.3 |
|
|
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)
| Don't Know |
50.9 |
| Mentor |
22.1 |
| Inamed (formerly McGhan) |
23.7 |
| Other (foreign) |
3.3 |
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.
| NET: PRE OP |
32.8 % |
|
|
| |
Pre op anxiety/fears |
26.0 % |
|
| |
Deciding size, type |
13.0 % |
|
| |
Cost |
3.8 % |
|
| |
Finding a Surgeon |
1.5 % |
|
| |
Anesthesia |
11.5 % |
|
| NET: POST OP RECOVERY |
74.8 |
|
|
| |
Pain |
42.7 |
|
| |
Unable to get around/use arms |
14.5 |
|
| |
Nausea/vomiting |
13.0 |
|
| |
Difficulty sleeping |
12.2 |
|
| |
First few days of recovery |
12.2 |
|
| |
Tightness/pressure in chest |
9.2 |
|
| |
Medications |
6.9 |
|
| |
Post-op exhaustion |
5.3 |
|
| |
Post-op anxiety/depression |
3.8 |
|
| NET: COMPLICATIONS |
5.3 |
|
|
| |
Complications (general) |
3.1 |
|
| |
Appearance/scarring |
2.3 |
|
| |
Bad job (general) |
0.8 |
|
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"
| Scale |
Total Sample (N=195) |
w/ Complications(N=35) |
<30 (N-81) |
40+ (N=27) |
| 1 |
14.4 |
|
|
|
| 2 |
11.9 |
|
|
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| 3 |
15.5 |
|
|
|
| 4 |
17.0 |
|
|
|
| 5 |
19.1 |
|
|
|
| 6 |
22.2 |
|
|
|
| NET: Low (1-3) |
41.8 |
25.7 |
37.5 |
51.9 |
| NET: Med (4) |
17.0 |
11.4 |
20.0 |
11.1 |
| NET: Bad (5-6) |
41.2 |
62.9 |
42.5 |
37.0 |
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
| SENSATION |
Total Sample (N=195) |
Those With Implants 3+ Years
(N=15) |
| Numb |
48.0 |
44.4 |
| More Sensitive |
27.6 |
33.3 |
| Same as before |
20.4 |
11.1 |
| NET: Changed |
74.5 |
77.8 |
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)
| Myself |
63.6 |
| Husband |
0.5 |
| Boyfriend |
0.5 |
| Other |
0.5 |
| Not answered |
34.9 |
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)
| No |
37.0 |
|
| No, only positive |
16.4 |
|
| No one knows yet |
2.1 |
|
| NET: No |
57.5 |
|
| Yes |
31.5 |
|
| |
Husband |
26.1 |
| |
Friends |
20.0 |
| |
Mother |
17.4 |
| |
Co-workers |
13.9 |
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
| |
Total Sample (N=195) |
> 3 years (N=15) |
w/ Complications (N=35) |
| I like the results |
72.3 |
53.3 |
55.9 |
| Wish I had gone bigger |
24.1 |
40.0 |
35.3 |
| Wish I had gone smaller |
3.7 |
6.7 |
8.8 |
| Happy with Results |
94.1 |
80.0 |
76.5 |
| Not Happy |
5.9 |
20.0 |
23.5 |
| No answer |
4.8 |
-- |
2.9 |
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)
| NET |
% |
| Under 30 |
58.1 |
| Under 35 |
83.9 |
| Under 40 |
96.8 |
*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)
| NET: |
% |
| Self-Esteem |
80.8 |
| To feel better about how I look |
65.4 |
| My breast size is too small |
38.5 |
| Want to achieve a particular
look |
15.4 |
| To look better in clothes |
11.5 |
| OTHER: |
|
| After nursing need |
15.4 |
| Influenced by significant other |
11.5 |
| Reconstructive reasons |
7.7 |
*'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)
| Haven't made up my mind yet |
60.0 |
| Haven't gotten the courage |
20.0 |
| Cost |
20.0 |
CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE KNOWING?
| No |
57.1 |
| Somewhat |
32.1 |
| Yes |
10.7 |
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)
| Question |
% Answering Yes |
| Does the media exploit women? |
77.4 |
| Does the media put too much pressure
on women? |
73.4 |
| Are men's standards too high
for how women should look? |
73.3 |
| Do you think men hold themselves
to the same standards? |
19.4 |
| Do you wish men should put as
much effort into looking good as women do? |
61.3 |
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.
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