title: The benefits and hazards of cosmetic surgery.
abstract: The benefits of cosmetic surgery are psychotherapeutic. Patients' symptoms of distress caused by self-consciousness of abnormal appearance are cured by an operation that normalizes the abnormality as the patient sees it. Cosmetic surgery is hazardous when insufficient attention is paid to patient selection, the choice of operation and surgical expertise.
authors.affiliation: Burns Unit, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D001828:Body Image; D006801:Humans; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards