For people who experience distress related to their appearance, cosmetic surgery can increase confidence and improve self-esteem. However, it's crucial to approach these procedures with a healthy mindset, realistic expectations, and thorough research. Overall, studies suggest that most patients were satisfied with the outcome and felt better about themselves. This was particularly the case for women who underwent reduction mammoplasty.
The functioning domains that showed improvements included “self-esteem”, distress and shyness, and “quality of life”. However, many of these studies have methodological limitations, such as small sample sizes and potentially biased determination. It could be said that patients who agree to participate in this type of research and commit to pre-intervention and post-intervention interviews represent a biased group, but none of the studies estimated the extent of that potential bias. In addition, clinical interviews may be subject to bias on the part of both the respondent and the interviewer, and in very few studies “blind” people were employed.
It is a matter of special concern that not all studies used valid evaluation tools, making it difficult to interpret the results. Finally, most studies evaluated very specific procedures and it's not clear how generalizable their results are to other types of cosmetic interventions. While there are potential mental health benefits, that doesn't mean plastic surgery is going to make everything better. To find a qualified plastic surgeon for any cosmetic or reconstructive procedure, consult a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Understanding 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.
All ASPS members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, have completed an accredited plastic surgery training program, practice in accredited centers, and follow strict safety and ethical standards. Figures provided by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reveal that cosmetic procedures (surgical and non-surgical) performed by plastic surgeons, dermatologists and otorhinolaryngologists increased 119% between 1997 and 1999.2 In 1999, more than 4.6 million such procedures were performed, the top five being chemical peels (18.3% of the total), botulinum toxin A injection (10.8%), laser hair removal (10.5%), collagen injection (10.5%) 3%) and sclerotherapy (9.0%). Plastic surgery procedures can be especially transformative for people who have had difficulty changing certain aspects of their appearance using non-surgical methods. Because of these potential outcomes, plastic surgery must be approached with a healthy mindset and a thorough understanding of potential risks and complications.
