Improving self-esteem is a common reason to have cosmetic surgery, but does it really deliver? Four decades of scientific studies have confirmed that the vast majority of patients are satisfied with their results. Less studied, however, are the psychological effects of those cosmetic procedures.
While people who have cosmetic surgery seek positive physical changes, they may also want more. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), attractive people are perceived as more intelligent, healthy, sociable, and dominant than the average person. People who have cosmetic surgery may be seeking to gain (or regain) those advantages.
Psychological Effects
Negative psychological effects of cosmetic surgery include depression, self-destructive behavior, and adjustment difficulties. These effects usually are temporary and occur during the healing process, before the final result of the procedure is apparent to the patient. Patients with unrealistic expectations are more likely to be dissatisfied with the final results of their cosmetic procedures.
At La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, all their plastic surgeons spend as much time as needed during a consultation to fully explain what a procedure can and cannot correct. The consultation is an important opportunity for both patient and doctor to get to know one another and for the surgeon to understand the patient's goals.
