RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: This study was to investigate the effects of aesthetic surgery on mental health. METHOD: Sixty-four patients were assessed for their mental health and the degree of satisfaction with their body image before and after operations. The subjects' mental health was evaluated by the Korean version of Symptom Check List-90(SCL-90), a satisfaction scale with body image, and a questionnaire for demographic data and operation. RESULTS: 1) The average score of SCL-90 significantly improved from 68.17(S.D.+/-48.26) to 58.03(S.D.+/-46.93) after operation(p<0.01). The scores of all subscales for somatization symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, hostility and psychoticism improved significantly. Significant improvement was also found in patients who were in their 20's and 40's, had family support and had positive attitudes toward their operations. Family support had a more positive influence in the group who had a poorer state of mental health before the operation. 2) The average score of satisfaction with their body image improved significantly from 58.54(S.D.+/-23.14) to 78.14(S.D.+/-18.30)(p<0.01). The more they were satisfied with their body image, the more their mental health state improved. The degree of improvement in satisfaction was significant (p<0.01) in patients who had shown a poorer mental health state before operation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that aesthetic surgery has positive influence on patients' mental health and improved satisfaction with their body image and also that, in selection of patients for aesthetic surgey, their age and possible family support should be considered.