Quality-of-life outcomes after cosmetic surgery

Area of Science:

• Psychological Medicine
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• Objective quantification of cosmetic surgery benefits is lacking.
• Growing prevalence of elective cosmetic procedures necessitates outcome assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively evaluate long-term quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes in patients undergoing elective cosmetic surgery.
• To assess changes in depression, social support, and coping post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, correlational study design.
• Involved 105 consecutive patients undergoing elective cosmetic surgery.
• Utilized Quality of Life Index, CES-D, social support, and coping scales preoperatively and at 1 and 6 months postoperatively.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in Quality of Life Index scores from baseline (3.24) to 6 months (2.11, p < 0.0001).
• Significant reduction in depression scores (CES-D) from 11.2 preoperatively to 6.3 at 6 months (p < 0.0001).
• No significant changes observed in social support or coping strategies post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• Elective cosmetic surgery yields significant, long-lasting positive psychological benefits, including improved QoL and reduced depression.
• The positive psychological impact is achieved without detriment to patients' social support networks or coping abilities.