The Impact of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery on Body Image and Psychological Well-Being: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Background: The relationship between body image and cosmetic surgery represents a new generation of research on the psychological aspects of cosmetic surgery. Objective: This preliminary study intends to investigate the role of distress relating to body image in conditioning the levels of post-operatory patient benefit both the impact of cosmetic surgery on the state of psychological well-being and body image through the analysis of the differences between the pre and post-operative stages. Methods: The study lasted 12 months and it occurred in two stages, a pre-operative stage (N=85) and a post-operative stage (N=85). The patients, subjected to different aesthetic operations, were administered the Body Uneasiness Test, Psychological General Well-Being Index -Short version in both the stages and the Glasgow Benefit Inventory in the post-operative phase. Results: The post-operative patient benefit was conditioned by the existence of clinically significant distress related to body image in the pre-operative stage, in accordance with the degree of severity; the operation had a positive impact on both the state of distress linked to psychological well-being and that relating to body image but, in the latter case, the improvement of distress depends on severity; all the patients with a body image disorder in the pre-operative stage continued to show this even after 12 months. Conclusions: A careful assessment of body image and its disorders in the stage before the operation may allow the identification of patients who may be dissatisfied by the outcome of the operation.

The Effect of Cosmetic Surgery on Sexual Self-Esteem: Attitudes toward Body Image and Well-Being in Married Women

“…The results of this research are in agreement with other researches. [39][40][41] People who visit the clinic for cosmetic surgery often suffer from stress and have anxiety symptoms and even depression symptoms; furthermore, they recurrently have low body image and low self-esteem. People, who have not undergone any cosmetic surgery, have higher levels of frustration and negative self-evaluation.…”

“…People, who have not undergone any cosmetic surgery, have higher levels of frustration and negative self-evaluation. [39][40][41] Given that in today's society, a huge emphasis is placed on attractiveness and physical fitness, and this matter has a profound effect on people's self-evaluation and brings on a substantial decrease in people's well-being. Whereas, people with a history of cosmetic surgery report lower anxiety and depression, and of course, enjoy higher well-being.…”

Body Image and Personality in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery: A Case-Control Study

“…Despite this, satisfaction of plastic surgery patients has often related to motivations and psychological characteristics. Assessing these features may help surgeons to decide which patients could be good psychological candidates for surgery [6] [54].…”

Feeling Elated: A Grounded Theory Study of Rhinoplasty

“…The primary stimulus for individuals to undergo rhinoplasty is more satisfied with their own appearance and improving their psychosocial functioning (von Soest et al, 2009). Several studies have demonstrated that rhinoplasty may improve quality of life (QoL), self-esteem, body image and social interactions (Esteves et al, 2017). A study showed that cosmetic surgery improves body image and self-esteem but it does not have any effect on psychological problems (von Soest et al, 2009).…”

“…A study showed that cosmetic surgery improves body image and self-esteem but it does not have any effect on psychological problems (von Soest et al, 2009). A preliminary study showed that the severity of body image distress may negatively impact on satisfaction with the outcome of the surgery (Di Mattei et al, 2015). A qualitative study in Iran focused on paradigm models to explain conditions, processes, and consequences of Rhinoplasty among the participants (Pournasiri, 2016) but it did not present a deep understanding from the studied phenomenon to explore the core concept so that it focused only on some general categories.…”