A small study released in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal in the January-February issue reveals that cosmetic surgery may not only enhance your self image, but also your sex life.  Pittsburg plastic surgeon Dr. Guy M. Stofman decided to explore this topic through a survey of his patients who had received various types of plastic surgery including breast augmentation, body contouring and facial surgeries. 

Dr. Stofman conducted his research by sending a confidential survey regarding post surgery sexual relationships to his former patients.  Of those patients, 70 returned the survey, all of which were women. 

The results showed that among women who had received breast augmentation, more than 80 percent claimed to experience greater sexual satisfaction after their surgery.  Patients who underwent other body contouring procedures reported a 50 percent increase in sexual satisfaction as well. 

The survey also showed that patients of Dr. Stofman felt sexier overall after their surgery.  A shocking 88 percent of the women respondents reported wearing more provocative clothing than prior to their surgery, and over 70 percent of all body contour and breast augmentation patients reported having partners that were more sexually satisfied. 

Patients receiving facelifts and other cosmetic facial procedures also reported a 37 percent increase in sexual happiness.  Dr. Stofman believes that the discrepancy of reported sexual fulfillment between body and facial patients may be primarily due to age.  Most body contouring and breast augmentation patients fell in the age group of 41 to 50 years, while most facial surgery patients ranged in age from 51 to 60.

While Dr. Stofman acknowledges that sexual happiness is not a definitive result of plastic surgery, the findings are promising, as well as somewhat expected.  “The clothes change, the shoulders are back, their personas change,” the doctor commented on the relationship between surgery and satisfaction.  It is not alarming that a strengthened sense of self-esteem and image would lead to an improved sex life, Stofman added. 

Most women alleged through their survey that sex was not the reason that they initially decided to undergo a plastic surgery procedure.  It was however, a definite perk. 

Dr. Kenneth C. Shestak, chief of plastic surgery at UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital applauded Stofman for his findings in a topic that had yet to be researched.  “I think this is a very provocative study,” commented the doctor.  “They were very imaginative and did a good job of putting the questionnaire together.”