Background: The relationship between body image and cosmetic surgery represents a new generation of research on the psychological aspects of cosmetic surgery. Objective: This preliminary study intends to investigate the role of distress relating to body image in conditioning the levels of post-operatory patient benefit both the impact of cosmetic surgery on the state of psychological well-being and body image through the analysis of the differences between the pre and post-operative stages. Methods: The study lasted 12 months and it occurred in two stages, a pre-operative stage (N=85) and a post-operative stage (N=85). The patients, subjected to different aesthetic operations, were administered the Body Uneasiness Test, Psychological General Well-Being Index -Short version in both the stages and the Glasgow Benefit Inventory in the post-operative phase. Results: The post-operative patient benefit was conditioned by the existence of clinically significant distress related to body image in the pre-operative stage, in accordance with the degree of severity; the operation had a positive impact on both the state of distress linked to psychological well-being and that relating to body image but, in the latter case, the improvement of distress depends on severity; all the patients with a body image disorder in the pre-operative stage continued to show this even after 12 months. Conclusions: A careful assessment of body image and its disorders in the stage before the operation may allow the identification of patients who may be dissatisfied by the outcome of the operation.
CITATION STYLE
Mattei, V., Bagliacca, E., Ambrosi, A., Lanfranchi, L., Preis, F., & Sarno, L. (2015). The Impact of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery on Body Image and Psychological Well-Being: A Preliminary Study. International Journal of Psychology & Behavior Analysis, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.15344/2455-3867/2015/103
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