Physical appearance perfectionism in blepharoplasty patients: A prospective observational study

Evaluation of physical appearance perfectionism (PAP) in individuals seeking blepharoplasty would be meaningful. This study aimed to explore the relationship of demographic and psychological variables with PAP in blepharoplasty patients and further investigate the impact of blepharoplasty on PAP in these patients.

This prospective observational study included 153 patients undergoing blepharoplasty between October 2017 and June 2019. Demographic and psychological variables, and PAP, were collected preoperatively. Postoperative satisfaction with eye appearance and PAP was collected with a 6-month follow-up.

Partial correlations analyses revealed that hope for perfection was positively associated with self-esteem (r = 0.246; P < 0.01) in 153 blepharoplasty patients. Worry about imperfection was positively related to facial appearance concern (r = 0.703; P < 0.001) and negatively related to satisfaction with eye appearance (r = -0.242; P < 0.01) and self-esteem (r = -0.533; P < 0.001). After blepharoplasty, the mean± standard deviation of satisfaction with eye appearance increased (preoperatively vs. postoperatively: 5.1 ± 2.2 vs. 7.4 ± 2.2; P < 0.001), and worry about imperfection decreased (17.0 ± 4.2 vs. 15.9 ± 4.6; P < 0.001). Whereas hope for perfection remained unchanged (23.9 ± 3.9 vs. 23.6 ± 3.9; P > 0.05).

Appearance perfectionism was related to psychological variables rather than demographic variables in blepharoplasty patients. Preoperative evaluation of appearance perfectionism could be helpful for oculoplastic surgeons to screen for perfectionistic patients. Although some improvement in perfectionism has been observed after blepharoplasty, long-term follow-up is needed in the future.