Results from National Survey of Breast Augmentation Patients Confirm Demographics and Motivations

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Mentor Corporation, a supplier of medical products in the United States and internationally, released results of a national online survey of breast augmentation surgery patients and women considering the surgery that revealed new insights about who is choosing breast implants and why they are choosing them.

In the 2005 survey, almost 90 percent of women surveyed agreed with the statement that "breast augmentation is a personal choice that helps women to achieve the confidence and well-being to flourish in other areas of their lives." Research has shown that satisfaction with one's own body image can be linked to improvements in confidence, health and well-being. Further, women who have had breast augmentation are overwhelmingly satisfied with their choice. Eight of 10 patients said they were satisfied with the surgery, and almost half (48 percent) indicated they were very satisfied. Three-quarters of patients said that if they had to do it over again, they would, and 70 percent would recommend the procedure to a friend or family member. The majority of the survey respondents disagreed with the popular notion that breast augmentation is primarily for rich women or exotic dancers/models trying to advance their careers.

"The survey results confirm what we have known for years: breast augmentation patients are intelligent, thoughtful women completely capable of making informed decisions," said Mentor CEO Joshua Levine. "In addition, these findings continue to challenge the myths that breast implant patients are young, uneducated and easily influenced."

Penn, Shoen, and Berland Associates conducted the survey of 1,200 women which included 200 breast augmentation surgery patients, and 1,000 women who stated they were "very likely" or "somewhat likely" to undergo breast augmentation surgery. Women choosing to complete this survey were predominately suburban mothers, with 65 percent of the women being over age 35 and married.

The results from this survey mirror the breast implant patient profile found in previous studies, such as Young et al's "Initial Report from an On-Line Breast Implant Follow-Up Survey" that appeared in the May 2004 Aesthetic Surgery Journal. Young's survey indicated that the average breast implant patient is in her 30s, well educated and a mother. Most importantly, the Young survey showed that 68 percent of survey respondents considered the procedure for at least a year before proceeding to surgery. In the Mentor survey, women choosing to have breast augmentation also demonstrated that they take the decision very seriously: 82 percent of surveyed women say they were "well informed" before they had the procedure.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons report that breast augmentation was the second most common surgical cosmetic procedure in 2004.

Laurie A. Casas, MD, associate professor of surgery, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, states, "My own experience mirrors that of surveys indicating that the typical breast augmentation implant patients are soccer moms -- they are not looking to become someone new, but often choose to resume the shape they had before childbirth."

An FDA advisory panel hearing regarding silicone gel-filled breast implants is scheduled for April 11-13, 2005. Since 1992, women considering breast augmentation have been limited to saline implants. If approved by the FDA, the many women contemplating breast augmentation will have the choice between silicone and saline implants. "One's experience as a woman is inextricably intertwined with her womanly characteristics, of which breasts are one," said clinical psychology doctoral student and breast augmentation patient Christy Sweet. "I was offered the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial for silicone breast implants, and after reading scientific journal articles investigating their safety, I chose to participate. Making this informed decision required many hours of research and contemplation, resulting in a decision which I am confident was correct, and with which I am pleased."

The leading reason respondents indicated for undergoing breast augmentation was to improve self-image and confidence. More than 60 percent of those surveyed said their reason to have the surgery was "to be more confident," followed closely by "to look better in clothes." The majority of women who chose to have surgery to increase their self-confidence reported that they were pleased with their choice, and noted that the surgery indeed helped to increase their self-confidence.

The margin of error for this survey was 6.9 percent among breast augmentation surgery patients, and 3.1 percent among women who say they are "very likely" or "somewhat likely" to consider breast augmentation.

About Memory Gel™
Mentor's advanced Memory Gel is a proprietary silicone gel formulation used to fill all of Mentor's silicone gel-filled breast implants around the world. By varying the ratio of the components of the gel, Mentor is able to produce a wide selection of products that address the full range of customers' needs.

About Mentor Corporation
Founded in 1969, Mentor Corporation is a supplier of medical products for the global healthcare market. The company develops, manufactures and markets innovative, science-based products for the aesthetics, urologic specialties and clinical and consumer healthcare markets around the world.

Source: Business Wire