The Impact of Plastic Surgery on Self-Esteem

Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty that can improve a person's appearance and repair facial and body tissue deformities caused by diseases, injuries, or congenital disabilities. It is a common misconception that the word plastic in plastic surgery means false, but this is simply not true. Studies suggest that most patients are satisfied with the results and feel better about themselves, particularly women who undergo a reduction mammoplasty. The domains of functioning that showed improvement included self-esteem, distress and shyness, and quality of life. However, many of these studies have methodological limitations, such as small sample sizes and a potentially biased determination. Clinical interviews may be subject to bias on the part of both the respondent and the interviewer, and very few studies employed people who were blindly qualified. Of particular concern is that not all studies used valid assessment tools, making it difficult to interpret the results. Patients who are satisfied with the results of plastic surgery often report increased self-confidence and improved social lives. Arthur Shektman, a Boston plastic surgeon, says that taking selfies on social media incentivizes all patients to undergo plastic surgery. MarketWatch reports that over 40 percent of plastic and facial reconstructive surgeons said that taking selfies on social media incentivizes all patients to undergo plastic surgery. Patients unsatisfied with previous surgeries or with a history of depression or anxiety are less likely to be satisfied with the result. To connect this trickle effect to plastic surgery procedures, satisfied patients see tremendous benefits in almost every detail of their lives. Castle's study also highlights that plastic surgery is mostly ineffective in increasing people's confidence with certain psychological disorders. Most studies that explore the relationship between self-confidence and plastic surgery indicate that satisfaction after a procedure is often associated with setting realistic expectations during the initial consultation.