A surgical surge in confidence and contentment.
A surgical surge in confidence and contentment
Posted Tuesday, March 23, 2010 New Beauty Magazine
An interesting study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons shows that cosmetic surgery procedures can act as a mood and confidence enhancer. The research focused on 362 patients, 61 of whom were taking antidepressants at the time of their surgery.
Six months after surgery, the number of patients on antidepressants dropped to 42. Additionally, a whopping 98% of patients said that cosmetic surgery had markedly improved their self-esteem.
While it would be a stretch to say that plastic surgery alone is responsible for the decrease in antidepressant use, it is evident that the surgery factor warrants deeper investigation. It’s also imperative to share your full psychiatric history with your surgeon, as some clinically depressed patients may not be good candidates for surgery.
What the Expert Says…
Dr. Michael A. Epstein | Plastic Surgeon
On a superficial level, it is easy for me to say with confidence that elective cosmetic surgery does indeed have a positive effect on one’s self-esteem. I see this time and time again in my own practice. I am also very well aware of the fact that not all depression and not all depressed patients can be “cured” by cosmetic surgery. It is imperative that the surgeon identifies the true motivation behind the patient’s desire for surgical enhancement to a specific facial or body part. The surgeon must do his or her best to ensure that there are no underlying secondary desires that come along with the patient’s wishes for cosmetic surgery. The surgeon must also do his or her best to identify those patients who are under-treated or not treated at all for their depression. I truly believe that if the patient and the surgeon can come together and clearly identify the goals of the proposed surgical procedure, and the expectations for outcome, plastic surgery can be a very rewarding.
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