PC49. Differential Sex Preferences in Breast Aesthetics

PURPOSE: While breast aesthetics are a highly discussed topic within plastic surgery, there is a paucity of literature examining how preferences differ amongst various demographic groups. The objective of this study was to assess how preferences of the ideal breast differ by sex of the respondent. METHODS: A cohort of 25 patients from the senior surgeon’s practices presenting for aesthetic or reconstructive breast surgery was assembled. Survey questions aimed to measure respondents’ impressions of “breast attractiveness.” Surveys accompanied with pre-operative anteroposterior photographs from these patients were distributed via Qualtrics (Seattle, WA), which allowed for a representative sample of the United States. Survey responses were analyzed for differences in breast aesthetic preferences by sex. RESULTS: A total of 1,021 survey responses were collected. Over half (52.6%) of survey respondents were female, 47% were male. On average, males rated any given pair of breasts as 17% more attractive than females did (range 3-34%, p=0.005). Despite this discrepancy, ratings amongst male and female respondents were highly correlated (R=0.940; R2=0.884; p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: In a sample representative of the United States, a difference in breast aesthetic appraisal was observed by sex. Males found each breast more aesthetically pleasing than their female counterparts. This finding may be important when considering sex-discordant patient-physician pairings, and warrants further investigation.