Meet Sonia. She is attractive and voluptuous. The latter is a feature that she recently acquired through breast enlargement surgery and that has made her a different person. Before the breast enlargement surgery, Sonia was timid and under-confidant. She was hesitant about the clothes she chose and was unaware about the fact that she was good looking. Breast enlargement surgery and a new cup size of 34D have given a boost to Sonia’s self confidence. She feels sexy, dresses like a diva and knows that she can make heads turn.

Research has shown that women who undergo breast enlargement surgery often see a sizable boost in self-esteem and positive feelings about their sexuality. Although plastic surgery should not be seen as a panacea for feelings of low self-worth or sexual attractiveness, it is important to understand the psychological benefits of these procedures.

In 2005, 2.1 million cosmetic surgical procedures were performed, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. More than 2 million women in the United States have breast implants, and this year more than 360,000 American women will undergo breast augmentation.

A study was undertaken where 84 women in the age group of 21 to 57 were assessed on their perceptions of self-esteem and sexuality before and after cosmetic breast augmentation surgery. Study participants had been previously scheduled for breast augmentation and were undergoing the procedure solely for cosmetic purposes. Eligible candidates were mailed a consent form, a demographic questionnaire and pre-tests asking them to rate their self-esteem and sexuality. They were then mailed a similar post-test two to three months after the surgery.

Improvements in the women’s self-esteem and sexual satisfaction were directly correlated with having undergone breast augmentation. The participants’ average self-esteem score increased from 20.7 to 24.9 on the 30-point Rosenberg scale, and their average female sexual function score increased from 27.2 to 31.4 on the 36-point index. Of note, after the procedure, there were substantial increases in ratings of sexual desire (a 78.6 percent increase from initial scores), arousal (81 percent increase) and satisfaction (57 percent increase).