Do cosmetic surgery patients need a preoperative psychiatric evaluation.

Several studies show that the dissatisfaction with body image is the main factor motivating people to undergo cosmetic surgery. However it’s essential to differentiate between “normal discontent” and the excessive concern that causes clinical significant distress to the individual. Literature suggests that patients with Body Image Disorder (BID) and Personality Disorders (PD) remain constantly dissatisfied and asked for additional operations for the same or other body areas. This study intends to investigate the role of BID and of PD in conditioning the post-operative patient satisfaction and to determine the prevalence of these disorders and their comorbidity. In the pre-operative stage sample was composed of 80 patients (91% F, 9% M; Mage = 32.68) and in the post-operative stage (13 months after the operation) the sample was composed of 77 patients. Participants completed self-report questionnaires. The post-operative patient satisfaction is conditioned by number of pathological personality traits and the existence of clinically significant distress related to body image in the pre-operative stage (Global Severity Index); all patients with a BID in the pre-operative stage continue to show the BID after the operation. 17.5% of subjects show at least one diagnosis of PD, 43.75% one of BID, and in all patients who have a PD there‘s a coexistence of BID. The results support the importance of a clinical evaluation for every patient seeking cosmetic surgery in order to avoid aesthetic plastic surgery on patients with psychiatric disorders