Observations
Depression sufferers more satisfied with surgical results
Ability to predict dissatisfaction 'highly useful'
Cosmetic surgery can provide patients with psychological benefits relating to self-esteem, confidence and body image. An American study in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery suggests that patients treated for depression are likely to be more satisfied with the results—overall optimism and pessimism apparently are unrelated to patient satisfaction post-procedure.
A total of 51 patients undergoing elective facial plastic surgery were surveyed and asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, a test evaluating optimism and pessimism and a surgical outcomes survey.
Participants returned 4–6 months after treatment to complete the test and survey. Results showed that those treated for depression were more satisfied with the surgical outcome than those who were not. Demographics, optimism and pessimism showed no correlation with satisfaction post-treatment.
Participants older than the average age of 53 were more satisfied with their results than younger patients, possibly reflecting more realistic expectations among older patients, say the authors. “The ability to preoperatively identify patient characteristics that might impact the subjective perception of surgical outcome and predict dissatisfaction with facial plastic surgery could be highly useful to surgeons,” conclude the authors.
