Most studies report that, in general, people are satisfied with the outcome of cosmetic procedures, but few rigorous evaluations have been performed. However, many others argue that cosmetic surgery is empowering. In a world where beautiful people are professionally and socially rewarded for their appearance, cosmetic surgery levels the playing field. More than that, many people argue that cosmetic surgery has psychological benefits because it improves confidence and satisfaction. But does it? Regardless of your point of view, whether you think that peels are only for bananas or if you've spent more time under the operating room than a chopped salad this week, at the request of an anonymous listener, we'll address the question: “Will cosmetic surgery make me happier? A review of relevant studies suggests that, in general, most patients are satisfied with the results of their cosmetic surgeries.
Researchers have also found that people who undergo cosmetic procedures often experience a decrease in feelings of anxiety and depression and an overall improvement in their quality of life. Most people who undergo elective cosmetic surgery seek greater confidence, a better sense of self-esteem, and an appearance of success. In other words, they seek happiness. But do they succeed in the long term? While our patients at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery are overwhelmingly satisfied with the results of their rhinoplasty surgeries, whether the patient is more satisfied with their overall quality of life after the operation will depend on several factors.
Many patients expect plastic surgery to improve not only their bodies but also their way of thinking by increasing their self-esteem or confidence. Plastic surgery can change lives, but it's not magic. The admission documentation for many plastic surgeons now includes more than just their name, height, weight, medications and previous surgeries. In addition, problems related to plastic surgery will increasingly affect clinical psychologists, and the area will offer them new functions, such as evaluating patients before and after surgery, says psychologist David Sarwer, PhD, director of the Education, Weight and Eating Disorders Program at the University of Pennsylvania.
While you may notice a noticeable difference immediately after a plastic surgery procedure, it's critical to remember that the final results aren't immediate and often take longer than expected. However, plastic surgeons want you to know from the start that there can be some obstacles to the well-being of any patient, even if you consider that you are mentally strong. For example, they can help plastic surgeons identify patients who may not be able to adapt well psychologically or psychosocially after surgery, researchers say. Cosmetic surgeons from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery55 discovered that these patients were well aware of body dysmorphic disorder and were reluctant to operate.
In addition to research, psychologists can also find clinical functions to help patients undergoing cosmetic surgeries, for example, helping plastic surgeons to perform these evaluations. The authors conclude that, although most people seem satisfied with the outcome of cosmetic surgical procedures, some are not, so an attempt should be made to detect these people in cosmetic surgery settings. The researchers reported that they had not observed any adverse effects of plastic surgery in the group of 544 patients. Cosmetic procedures have long been criticized by some for their superficiality, and the idea that people should strive to meet society's standards of beauty has only fanned this fire.
Sarwer often works with plastic surgeons to help them identify psychological problems such as obsessive-compulsive affective disorder, so that surgeons can refer patients to mental health professionals. Castle says empirically based screening questionnaires will help plastic surgeons select likely cosmetic surgery patients of experiencing positive psychosocial outcomes.
