[Aesthetic surgery and quality of life before and four months postoperatively]

To evaluate the improvement in the subjective quality of life and mental health after Aesthetic surgery on the basis of indices of patient satisfaction.

The population consisted of 25 women who had requested cosmetic surgery (mean age: 34.76) including 19 for breast augmentation and 6 for abdominal plastic surgery. After giving their written consent, the subjects took part in a psychological evaluation conducted at two different times: the first at the time of the second medical consultation and the second 4 months after surgery. In each case, the psychological evaluation consisted of a clinical interview and two questionnaires: the subjective quality of life profile (SQLP) and the general health questionnaire (GHQ12).

The results of the study revealed the benefits of cosmetic surgery for the patients' subjective quality of life. The subjects' mental health and quality of life improved on a number of dimensions: physical health, pain, physical appearance, social life and inner life. Improved physical health during the postoperative period was associated with the quality of the relations with the doctor whereas deterioration in health was associated with excessively high initial expectations concerning the relations with doctors and physical health.