Effects of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery on Anxiety, Depression and Social Discomfort

ABSTRACT

While studies spanning four decades have reported that most people undergoing cosmetic interventions are satisfied with the results, what has been less studied is the outcome in psychosocial terms. Authors have attempted to evaluate whether improvement in psychosocial wellbeing following cosmetic enhancement can be objectively evaluated. From August, 2002 to June, 2003, forty patients who have received cosmetic surgery such as blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, facial scar revision, mammoplasty were investigated on anxiety, depression and social discomfort by answering questionnaires repeatedly at preoperative, immediately postoperative and 3 months postoperative visits. The results were analyzed and statistically processed using psychological methods including Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck's Depression Inventory(BDI), Social Avoidance & Distress Scale(SAD), Sheehan's Disability Scale. The study observed that there happens anxiety and depression, social discomfort at work and home, and various social activities have decreased in the patients after cosmetic surgeries. But satisfactory feeling in general lives of the patients has not been improved after cosmetic surgeries. In our study, cosmetic surgeries gave the patients enhancement in several psychosocial problems, but long term improvement about the satisfaction of general life needs other changes in wide range of life.