HOT TOPICS

Part of the problem or part of the solution? Plastic surgeons and body image dissatisfaction
Aust J Plast Surg. 2018;1(2):74-84. | ORIGINAL ARTICLE | LINK

Professor Nichola Rumsey OBE BA(Hons) MSc PhD, Professor Phillippa C Diedrichs PhD BSc(Hons)

Centre for Appearance Research
University of the West of England
Bristol, UNITED KINGDOM

Keywords: body image, health education, surgeons, patient selection, follow-up studies

Abstract: The prevalence of body dissatisfaction among people of all ages is increasing year on year. A substantial body of evidence now attests to a range of negative impacts on psychological wellbeing and on key areas of living, including health, education, work and relationships. This article considers why this social issue is worthy of attention from plastic surgeons and their teams and outlines ways in which the profession might contribute to a collective response. Suggestions include education to enhance understanding of the psychological factors involved in seeking and responding to appearance-enhancing surgery, training to improve standards of clinical practice (including patient selection, assessment and follow-up; promoting fully informed shared treatment decision making; the routine collection of pre and post procedural data) and the adoption of socially responsible business practices.

Interested in this topic? The Australasian Foundation for Plastic Surgery is working with global experts to develop new, best-practice clinical tools to support specialist plastic surgeons and other practitioners to recognise underlying mental health issues in patients seeking appearance altering surgery. Read more here.

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