PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS PLASTIC SURGERY 1

The Severity of Psychological

Effects from Plastic Surgery

Temperance Brennen

York College of Pennsylvania

The Severity of Psychological Effects from Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery is a very common concept, especially here in the United States. But what most people do not know is the severity of the psychological effects the surgery has on a person, whether it is good or bad. Most of the time when people think of plastic surgery they think of breast implants, nose jobs and other types of cosmetic surgery and though these surgeries do play a role on one’s psyche, they forget about all the types of plastic surgery that help someone and how the surgery affects them as well. For years cosmetic and plastic surgery have had serious health issues, which still makes it a high risk. Also, reasons for getting the surgery in the first place affect someone considering surgery, or someone who has already had the procedure done. Self-esteem issues are the most common reason for getting the surgery done (Figueroa, 2003), but there are many health factors, for example cancer of the breasts and skin that play a part too. With factors such as these, it is not a wonder why I would like to further investigate the severity of the effects on patients.

A review of the literature showed numerous journals relating to the psychological effects of plastic surgery. A major finding was that of breast augmentation and reconstruction. In the articles done by Gladfelter (2007), and Crerand, Infield, and Sarwer (2007), they both describe not only who would get the procedure done, but ways to assess if a patient was severely affected pre and post-operative. One way to evaluate a patient that was discussed in the Crerand, et al. article was the nurse or surgeon’s assistant closely monitoring the patients both before and after surgery, to make possible referrals to psychologists from psychological trauma due to surgery. How does this really help the patients? This type of method lacks any real basis of credible evaluation when assessing the patient’s trauma, if there is any at all. Unlike that evaluation, another way suggested is having a patient assessed physically and emotionally through a series of pre-operative consultations, in which medical history questions, reasons for surgery, and even preparing and teaching the patients is required before enduring the surgery and assessing the patients psyche (Gladfelter, 2007). This way seems much more invasive and will most likely make the environment for the patient a more positive and trusting one between themselves and the doctor. An article discussed a review of the literature on when the best time to get breast reconstruction is when you have breast cancer and takes a more health related spin of the psychosocial effects on patients who have breast cancer and must get surgery to save their lives and the different approaches they can take to do so (Thornton & Sorokin, 2002).

A large amount of the literature was related to reasons for doing the surgery. A disease called Body Dismorphic Disorder or BDD was brought up as a huge influencing factor for cosmetic surgery because those affected by this can become addicted to plastic surgery, and believe that any imperfection must be fixed (Hawaleshka, 2005). Hawaleshka even believes that there is a link to BDD and attempted suicide, most likely because of the need to be perfect, and those who have this disorder go to many lengths to become this “perfect,” whether they get professional help or do it themselves. Hearing a surgeon’s point of view on which patients are better candidates for surgery and which should not even be considered could show other surgeons the criteria to look for in both types of candidates. Consultations of course are very important when evaluating, but the types of questions asked are even more important, again reasons for getting surgery can be warning signs, and the atmosphere is also important because if the surgeon does not feel comfortable with the patient then it is probably a sign to not carry out the surgery at all (Sevinor, 1994).

Research studying who may be the more likely candidate for specific types of plastic surgery can also be helpful when finding and assessing the possible psychological effects. In fact those who actually get or consider the surgery are not middle age women as most people think, but are actually those from any age group or income (USA Today Magazine, 2005). With that said another study was conducted to see just how different young adults and adolescents were when considering plastic surgery, from their body attitudes and personalities (Simis, Verhulst & Koot, 2001). Thorpe, Ahmed & Steer (2004), conducted a study on reasons for surgery specifically to women. There are three themes that were represented through the post-operative females they studied; “age appropriateness,” “body integrity,” and “wanting to look normal,” and along with these themes the women discussed how they related to their feelings of the surgery (Thorpe, Ahmed, & Steer, 2004).

Though the research did discuss techniques to evaluate patients and such there is a gap in the research in which the surgeons themselves are not prepared enough to make accurate assessments, and are just taught the technical side of the surgery. Along with that the nurses should be better equipped as well since they do not have a major role in the performance of the surgery themselves. Another topic that the literature has fallen short on in the studies and articles, are whether their candidates are more dissatisfied with the specific body parts, or their whole body in general. This is something that can be asked pre and post-operation to measure a more specific psychological aspect of body dissatisfaction and plastic surgery. Because of these gaps, I intend to further the research by investigating and learning better and more effective ways to evaluate plastic surgery patients, whether it is cosmetic or reconstructive in hopes of avoiding any amount of psychological trauma due to surgery.

References

Crerand, C. E., Infield, A. L., & Sarwer, D. B. (2007). Psychological considerations in cosmetic breast augmentation. Plastic Surgical Nursing.27, 146-154. Retrieved on March 11, 2008, from EBSCOhost.

Figueroa, Cynthia. (2003). Self-esteem and cosmetic surgery: Is there a relationship between the two. Plastic Surgical Nursing. 23, 21-24. Retrieved on March 11, 2008, from EBSCOhost.

Gladfelter, Joanne. (2007). Breast augmentation 101. Plastic Surgical Nursing. 27, 136-145. Retrieved on March 11, 2008, from EBSCOhost.

Hawaleshka, Danylo. (2005). I hate my fat legs. Maclean’s, 118, 1. Retrieved on March 25, 2008, from EBSCOhost.

Rankin, M. & Borah, G. (2006). Psychological complications. Plastic Surgical Nursing. 26, 178-183. Retrieved on March 11, 2008, from EBSCOhost.

Sevinor, S., J. (1994). The psychology of beauty: What are the right reasons for plastic surgery. USA Today Magazine, 123(2592), 58-59. Retrieved on March 11, 2008, from EBSCOhost.

Simis, K. J., Verhulst, F. C., & Koot, H. M. (2001). Body image, psychosocial functioning, and personality: How different are adolescents and young adults applying for plastic surgery. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry & Allied Disciplines, 42, 669-678. Retrieved on March 11, 2008, from EBSCOhost.

Thornton, J., & Sorokin, E. S. (2002). Optimal timing of breast reconstruction – An algorithm for management based on a review of the literature. Breast Disease, 16, 31-35. Retrieved on March 11, 2008, from EBSCOhost.

Thorpe, S. J., Ahmed, B., & Steer, K. (2004). Reasons for undergoing cosmetic surgery: A retrospective study. Sexualities, Evolution & Gender, 6, 75-96. Retrieved on March 11, 2008, from EBSCOhost.

USA Today Magazine. (2005). Why people want plastic surgery. 134(2725), 2. Retrieved on March 11, 2008, from EBSCOhost.