Table 2.
The survey used in the study
| Dimension | Contents | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Questions present in the original survey and not used in the present study | The most important events in my life (select up to 3 items): Acquiring profession, marriage, childbirth, death of a close person, change of a living place, first love, purchase of a flat, first job, decision on altering my breasts, leaving family house, other |
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| The most important values to me (select up to 2 items): Money, health, professional success, happiness of a close person, love, my own appearance, successful family life, social success, other | |||
| How will the decision on surgery change my life (select 1 item)?a It will entirely change my life. It will mainly change my sexual life. It will change my self-image into positive. It will not affect me at all. It is insignificant because I have high self-assessment anyway. Other. | |||
| How has the decision on surgery changed my life (select 1 item)?b It has entirely changed my life. It has mainly changed my sexual life. It has changed my self-image into positive. It has not affected me at all. It has been insignificant because I have high self-assessment anyway. I have stopped envying other women their appearance. Finally, I undress on the beach without inhibitions. I have become more attractive for my partner. Other. | |||
| I have learnt about the place and possibility of surgery from (select 1 item):a The poster at the doctor’s surgery. “Info-Tip” journal published in Germany. The leaflet at the restaurant in Poland. The previously operated person. “The Polish Courier” newspaper published in Germany. The gynecologist. The hair-dresser, who heard about such a possibility. The Internet. Other. | |||
| The reason for deciding on cosmetic surgery (select up to 2 items):a It is a matter of my physical and mental state. I do not feel good with my breasts. I am ashamed of my breasts. I have a problem with undressing on the beach. I am ashamed of my breasts. I have difficulties in undressing in my partner’s presence. My breasts are my inveterate complex. I want to get rid of it. I am doing it out of envy. I cannot look at women with perfect breasts. It is not only a matter of breasts. My appearance is important to me. My present breasts are too small. I have always wanted to have large breasts. I just feel like improving my appearance. I am doing it for my partner, who wants me to have proper breasts. Small breasts make my sexual life difficult. I have made a decision on breast augmentation together with my partner. Other. | |||
| Assessment of my appearance (select 1 item): Very attractive, without any fault. Rather attractive, certainly I favorably stand out from the crowd. Rather average, not different from others. I still have a lot of objections to my appearance. I am not attractive. I am going to undergo another cosmetic surgery. Other. | |||
| How do I deal with difficult situations (select up to 2 items)?a I just try not to think about it. I ask somebody’s advice on what to do. I fall asleep and believe that the problem will disappear when I wake up. I confide in somebody but do not expect any advice. I try to solve the problem by myself as quickly as possible. I usually sit and worry myself. I eat more than usually—I just “overeat” my trouble. I stop eating then. I smoke more than usual. When I worry I believe in the effectiveness of alcohol. Other. | |||
| Personality traits | The following adjectives describe me best (select up to 5 items): Intelligent, hard-working, beautiful, ugly, impatient, lost and confused, nervous, frank, witty, lonely, responsible, happy, active, calm, grumbling, nice, tidy, nasty, caring, lazy |
||
| Quality of life assessment | Current satisfaction with my life (0—lowest, 10—highest)? | ||
| Neuroticism | Something has troubled me for a long time, as if something bad was going to happen: | ||
| Yes | No | Difficult to say | |
| In my opinion, you cannot trust even the loved ones, because I have been often disappointed in them: | |||
| Yes | No | Difficult to say | |
| I often worry about some trifles that generally should not bother me: | |||
| Yes | No | Difficult to say | |
| I prefer keeping away from others because many people wish me ill: | |||
| Yes | No | Difficult to say | |
| Lie scale | I sometimes boast: | ||
| Yes | No | Difficult to say | |
| I sometimes put off things I should do today until tomorrow: | |||
| Yes | No | Difficult to say | |
| I sometimes lie: | |||
| Yes | No | Difficult to say | |
aQuestions asked only before surgery
bQuestions asked only after surgery