The present investigation attempted to assess the psychological aftereffects of mastectomy in women. An edited version of the Berscheid, Walster, and Bohrnstedt Body Image Questionnaire (1972) and a focused interview were administered to three groups of female surgical patients both pre- and postoperatively. Significant differences were found between groups presurgically on time lag before calling doctor and amount of anxiety expressed in the interview. Breast surgery seems to elicit more anxiety, as evidenced by shorter times between appearance of symptom and contacting doctor, and spontaneous expression of fear of mutilation or death in the interview. Significant postsurgical decreases were found for all groups in self-concept and satisfaction with intimate relationships. The defensive operation of denial is hypothesized to be masking postsurgical differences in the mastectomy patients. (Author)