A quantitative comparison of psychological and emotional health measures in 360 plastic surgery candidates: is there a difference between aesthetic and reconstructive patients?
This study examines the utility of the aesthetic and reconstructive categorization for making treatment decisions in patients seeking facial surgery. A total of 360 patients with aesthetic or combined functional aesthetic deficits were included. Validated psychological scales were used as outcome measures. All subjects showed clinically significant levels of appearance-related distress, with highest levels in the aesthetic and lowest levels in the functionally impaired group. Significant gender differences were not found on any psychological measures. A small negative correlation was found between age and distress. These findings challenge the validity of restricting treatment on the basis of an aesthetic distinction, since this is the group demonstrating the highest level of need. Neither age nor gender is a reliable discriminator. Subjective assessment of noticeability of disfigurement and associated psychological distress may be more useful in prioritizing treatment in systems with limited resources.
Cordeiro
Christina N
CN
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Clarke
Alex
A
White
Paul
P
Sivakumar
Bran
B
Ong
Juling
J
Butler
Peter E M
PE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D001828:Body Image; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004954:Esthetics / Q000523:psychology*; D005145:Face / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D039682:HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015361:Rhytidoplasty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents