title: Quality of life before and after cosmetic surgery.
abstract: This article reviews the literature regarding the impact of cosmetic surgery on health-related quality of life (QOL). Studies were identified through PubMed/Medline and PsycINFO searches from January 1960 to December 2011. Twenty-eight studies were included in this review, according to specific selection criteria. The procedures and tools employed in cosmetic surgery research studies were remarkably diverse, thus yielding difficulties with data analysis. However, data indicate that individuals undergoing cosmetic surgery began with lower values on aspects of QOL than control subjects, and experienced significant QOL improvement post-procedurally, an effect that appeared to plateau with time. Despite the complexity of measuring QOL in cosmetic surgery patients, most studies showed an improvement in QOL after cosmetic surgery procedures. However, this finding was clouded by measurement precision as well as heterogeneity of procedures and study populations. Future research needs to focus on refining measurement techniques, including developing cosmetic surgery-specific QOL measures.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences,Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,Los Angeles,California,USA.
authors.forename: Jean-Charles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bensoussan
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences,Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,Los Angeles,California,USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bolton
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences,Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,Los Angeles,California,USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pi
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences,Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,Los Angeles,California,USA.
authors.forename: Allycin L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Powell-Hicks
authors.affiliation: 4Tulane School of Medicine,New Orleans,Louisiana,USA.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Postolova
authors.affiliation: 2Massachusetts General Hospital,Harvard Medical School,Boston,Massachusetts,USA.
authors.forename: Bahram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Razani
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences,Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,Los Angeles,California,USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences,Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,Los Angeles,California,USA.
authors.forename: Waguih William
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: IsHak
mesh_terms: D061645:Abdominoplasty; D019882:Blepharoplasty; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D015187:Lipectomy; D016462:Mammaplasty; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012225:Rhinoplasty; D015361:Rhytidoplasty