Breast Implants Lift Sex, Self-Esteem
March 23, 2007 — Women report better sexuality and improved self-esteem Cynthia Figueroa-Haas, PhD, clinical assistant professor at the University Overall, the women didn’t have particularly low self-esteem or particularly “They were already OK with self-esteem and sexuality — they just wanted Figueroa-Haas bristles at the idea that it’s frivolous for women to want to “A lot of people consider plastic surgery a procedure that doesn’t need Figueroa-Haas reports her findings in the January/March issue of Plastic After getting breast implants, women experienced every measure of sexuality Figueroa-Haas says women tend to be left out of the discussion when it comes “Improved sexuality is not all about men’s sexuality and Viagra,” Despite the benefits she finds in cosmetic breast augmentation, “This isn’t a cure-all. If you have underlying issues, That’s a very important point, agrees clinical psychologist David B. Sarwer, “Sure, body image is an important part of self-esteem,” Sarwer tells Sarwer has found that women who seek cosmetic breast surgery have their own, Sarwer says women considering breast implants should consider three And Sarwer warns that researchers are now becoming aware of a dark side to “What we think is going on here, although we are not sure, is these
after cosmetic breast augmentation surgery, a University of Florida study
shows.
of Florida College of Nursing, advertised for volunteers in the offices of
cosmetic plastic surgeons. Eighty-four women completed questionnaires on
self-esteem and sexuality before and after cosmetic breast augmentation
surgery.
poor sexual function prior to surgery. But both aspects of their lives
significantly improved after they got breast implants.
larger breasts,” Figueroa-Haas tells WebMD. “They got increased levels
of self-esteem and sexuality.”
improve their body image. Body image, she says, is an important factor in a
woman’s self-esteem.
to be done. They say women should stay with their bodies and what God gave them
and be satisfied. I don’t agree,” she says. “This procedure does change
women’s issues. There are differences in life satisfaction
between people with good and poor self-esteem.”
Surgical Nursing.Sex and Breast
more strongly, Figueroa-Haas found. After breast augmentation, women reported
significant increases in arousal, sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, and
lubrication.
to enhancing sexuality.
she says. “It is a subject women even have trouble discussing with other
women. But women who suffer sexuality issues feel like they are not feminine
enough.”
Figueroa-Haas warns that surgery cannot address serious underlying issues women
may have.
don’t run out and see a plastic surgeon. These issues have to be addressed
first,” she says.
PhD, director of the weight and eating disorders program at the University of
Pennsylvania. Sarwer has studied psychological issues surrounding breast
augmentation surgery.
WebMD. “But self-esteem is based on all sorts of things other than body
image. It may be to think that, just by having breast augmentation,
a woman will improve her overall self-esteem.”
personal motivations. They are not, as stereotype would have it, trying to
please their husbands or boyfriends.
things:
surgery under pressure from someone else.
way,” Sarwer says. “They may get some positive attention, but they may
also suffer negative attention. For everyone who says you look great, there may
be whispers down the lane: ‘She is too big, too showy.’”
problem called body dysmorphic disorder: concern over
relatively minor physical imperfections. Both Sarwer and Figueroa-Haas warn
that women must be evaluated for this condition before surgery.
breast implants: suicide.
women have some pathology, perhaps clinical depression, prior to surgery,”
he says. “And when implants don’t improve their depression, these women
become suicidal. For women with profound underlying issues, there is something
going on here that is potentially dangerous.”