Not what I expected: informational needs of women undergoing breast surgery.

In 2008, approximately 500,000 women in the United States underwent breast surgery, either cosmetic surgery or reconstruction following mastectomy for breast cancer. There is a growing body of literature on women's motivations to have these types of surgical procedures and on satisfaction with the aesthetic outcomes, but little is known about the information needs and expectations of women who choose to undergo these procedures. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to gain a better understanding of the informational needs of women who underwent breast augmentation, breast reduction, or breast reconstruction following breast cancer surgery.