In stark contrast, studies conducted by Nielsen et al9 and Papadopulos et al10 showed a marked improvement in depressive symptoms after tummy tuck. Increases in self-esteem and body image improved in both studies.
This raises the question of the pre-existing mental state of patients undergoing tummy tuck and how it may differ from that of patients seeking breast augmentation.
Carrying out more studies on the psychological processes that affect both patients who want to undergo breast augmentation and tummy tuck would help to understand the difference in psychological outcomes after these operations. Because of differences in social emphasis on physical appearance and beauty standards, the psychological effects of breast augmentation and pre-existing mental health problems may be different in the United States.Aesthetic procedures, such as tummy tuck, breast augmentation, facelift and rhinoplasty, have been shown to have unique preoperative and postoperative psychological factors. Making the above additions to the practice of cosmetic surgery could significantly reduce potential psychological distress during the surgical process. However, one of the main reasons behind the decision to undergo cosmetic procedures remains the desire to improve body image, the way we think and feel about our body. There are many reasons why cosmetic procedures may be increasing, from falling costs and reducing stigma to social media and Instagram filters. The research analyzed in this review requires that plastic surgeons better understand the psychological burdens of their patients during the consultation, in order to maximize the mood benefits after the operation.
This is especially concerning, as some research shows that people who undergo cosmetic surgery are more likely to have had mental health problems compared to the general population. The purpose of this summary is to describe available research on the psychological factors associated with cosmetic surgery. An understanding of preoperative psychology and post-surgical mood changes is critical for plastic surgeons to effectively advise patients, communicate expectations clearly, and help decide if patients are the right candidates for surgery. Even patients with few or no symptoms of depression report experiencing an increase in their psychological well-being after cosmetic surgery. Research has also found that people with symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder (a concern or obsession with some aspect of appearance) see no improvement in psychological well-being after surgery.
Research also shows that people who have low self-esteem or who have been teased because of their appearance are more likely to undergo cosmetic surgery. In particular, factors such as the preoperative mental state, level of education, type of cosmetic procedure, postoperative healing time, sex and age of the patient influence the determination of the direction and magnitude of psychological change after surgery. In other words, there is a risk that cosmetic surgery will worsen existing mental health problems in some people. Finally, there is a statistically significant correlation (r = 0.3) between the probability of undergoing cosmetic surgery and the physical attractiveness scale.
Several studies have shown that cosmetic surgery patients experience improvements in their body image after a aesthetic procedure.
