Psychological issues in cosmetic surgery: a functional overview

Abstract

The relevance of psychological issues in cosmetic surgery has been well established in the literature. Early articles considered psychopathology to be prevalent in the plastic surgery population, whereas more recent views consider the typical cosmetic surgery candidate to be more psychologically stable. Despite these changes, the potential for psychopathology continues to be recognized. Consequently, screening for psychopathology during the preoperative interview has remained essential. To facilitate a working knowledge of psychological issues that may be useful in preoperative screening, this article reviews the current literature on the psychology of plastic surgery. In addition to discussing the psychological impact of cosmetic surgery, patient's motivations and expectations for surgery are discussed in the context of self-image. After reviewing potential types of psychopathology, various preoperative screening techniques are discussed.