Investigation of Body Perception, Alexithymic Characteristics, and Self-Esteem in Patients Underwent Septorhinoplasty

Objective: This study evaluated patients' body perception, self-esteem, and personality traits during the preoperative and postoperative periods of septorhinoplasty. Based on these evaluations, we may provide patient selection recommendations for septorhinoplasty applicants. Methods: In this cross-sectional questionnaire study, 86 patients who underwent primary septorhinoplasty in the Department of Otolaryngology at Bilecik Training and Research Hospital were included between March 2023 and 2024. The same surgeon performed all operations. The preoperative Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Body Perception Scale (BPS), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), and TEMPS-A Temperament Scale in the preoperative period and ROE, RSES, and BPS in the postoperative period were applied. Results: Fifty-four female and 32 male patients participated in our study. The mean age was 24.0 ± 0.6 years. While there was no significant difference in the BPS and RSES scores between the preoperative and postoperative periods, the total ROE score was significantly higher in the postoperative than in the preoperative period. Postoperative ROE scores were positively correlated with RSES and hyperthymic temperament. In contrast, it was negatively correlated with depressive temperament, cyclothymic temperament, anxious temperament, BPS total score, TAS total score, and TAS emotion recognition and expression subscale scores. In the group with alexithymia features separated according to the TAS cutoff score, preoperative and postoperative ROE results were significantly lower, whereas depressive, cyclothymic, irritable, and anxious personality traits and total BPS scores were higher. However, the postoperative RSBE scores were lower in this group. Conclusion: This is the first study to evaluate self-esteem, body image, alexithymia, and personality traits in septorhinoplasty patients. Appropriate patient selection is essential for success and patient satisfaction in aesthetic operations such as septorhinoplasty. Performing BPS, TEMPS-A, and TAS may help evaluate psychological factors.