Skip to main content

The Psychosocial Aspects of Cosmetic Surgery

  • Chapter

Abstract

While there is ample evidence to indicate that a youthful appearance leads to an increase in self-esteem and measurable improvements in social and job related outcomes, many members of the general public and the medical profession still ascribe character flaws and even psychopathology to anyone seeking surgical or other medical treatments for aging skin. In this chapter we review the psychosocial advantages of such interventions, the relevant literature relating physical appearance to personal and social outcomes, and ways of identifying patients for whom surgery may be contraindicated.

We restore, repair, or conceal those parts of the face which nature has taken away. Not so much that we may delight in the eye, but that we may buoy up the spirit and restore the mind of the afflicted.

Gaspare Togliacozzi, 1597

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Brown WE. Cosmetic Surgery. Stein and Day, Publishers, New York, undated.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Cash TF. Physical appearance and mental health. In: The Psychology of Cosmetic Treatments, JA. Graham, AM. Kligman, eds. Praeger, New York, 1985, pp. 196–216.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Berscheid E, Walster EH. Interpersonal Attraction, 2nd ed. Addison-Wesley Publishers, Reading, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Waters J. Cosmetics and the job market. In: The Psychology of Cosmetic Treatments, JA Graham, AM Kligman, eds. Praeger, New York, 1985, pp. 113–124.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Johnson, DF. Appearance and the elderly. In: The Psychology of Cosmetic Treatments, JM Graham, AM Kligman, eds. Praeger, New York, 1985, p. 152.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Drew B, Waters J. Attitudes toward older men and women in three areas of functioning: physical, cognitive, and sexual. Paper presented at the First Annual Research Conference on Women, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Berscheid E. An overview of the psychological effects of physical attractiveness and some comments upon the psychological effects of knowledge of the effects of physical attractiveness. In: Logical Aspects of Facial Form (Craniofacial Growth Series), W Lucker, K Ribbens, JA Mc-Namera, eds. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Adams GR. Physical attractiveness: Toward a developmental social psychology of beauty. Human Dev. 1977;20:217–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Adams GR, Read D. Personality and social influence styles of attractive and unattractive college women. Psychol. 1983;114:151–157.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Chaiken S. Communicator physical attractiveness and persuasion. Personality Soc Psychol. 1979;50:492–501.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Adams GR. Attractiveness through the ages: implications of facial attractiveness over the life cycle. In: The Psychology of Cosmetic Treatments, JA Graham, AM Kligman, eds. Praeger, New York, 1985, pp. 133–151.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Adams GR, Huston TL. Social perception of middle-aged persons varying in physical attractiveness. Dev Psychol. 1975;11:656–658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Jones RM, Adams GR. Assessing the importance of physical attractiveness across the life-span. Soc Psychol. 1982; 118:131–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Wilde O. The Picture of Dorian Grey. Heritage Press, New York, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Cooley CH. Human nature and the social order. Scribner, New York, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Cash TF, Horton CE. Aesthetic surgery: effects of rhinoplasty on the social perception of patients by others. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1983;72(4):543–548.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Arndt EM, Travis F, Lefebvre A, et al. Beauty and the eye of the beholder: social consequences and personal adjustments for facial patients. Br J Plast Surg. 1986;39(1):81–84.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Elliot M, Bull R, James D, Lansdown R. Children’s and adults’ reactions to photographs taken before and after facial surgery. J Maxillofac Surg. 1986;14(1):18–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Wengle HP. The psychology of cosmetic surgery: old problems in patient selection seen in a new way. Part II. An Plast Surg. 1986;16(6): 487–493.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Wengle HP. The psychology of cosmetic surgery: a critical overview of the literature 1960–1982. Part I. An Plast Surg. 1986;16(5): 435–443.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Dull D, West C. Accounting for cosmetic surgery: the accomplishment of gender. Soc Prob. 1991;38(1):54–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Schweitzer I. The psychiatric assessment of the patient requesting facial surgery. Australian and New Zealand J Psychiat. 1989;23(2):249–254.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Mohl PC. Psychiatric consultation in plastic surgery: the psychiatrist’s perspective. Psychosomatics. 1984;25(6):470,474–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Groenman NH, Sauer HC. Personality characteristics of the cosmetic surgical insatiable patient. Psychother Psychosomat. 1983;40(1–4): 241–245.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 3rd ed. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C., 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Thomson JA, Knor NJ, Edgerton MT. Cosmetic surgery: the psychiatric perspective. Psychosomatics. 1978;19(1):7–15.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Kligman AM. Medical aspects of skin and its appearance. In: The Psychology of Cosmetic Treatments, JA Graham, AM Kligman, eds. Praeger, New York, 1985, pp. 3–25.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Graham JA. Overview of psychology of cosmetics. In The Psychology of Cosmetic Treatments, JA Graham, AM Kligman, eds. Praeger, New York, 1985, pp. 26–36.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Graham JA, Kligman AM. Preface. In: The Psychology of Cosmetic Treatments, JA Graham, AM Kligman, eds. Praeger, New York, 1985, p. vii.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Dicker RL, Syracuse VR. Consultation with a Plastic Surgeon. Nelson, Chicago, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Goin MK, Burgoyne RW, Goin JM, Staples FR. A prospective study of 50 female face-lift patients. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1980:65(4):436–442.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1995 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Waters, J., Ellis, G. (1995). The Psychosocial Aspects of Cosmetic Surgery. In: Elson, M.L. (eds) Evaluation and Treatment of the Aging Face. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8401-4_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8401-4_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-8403-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-8401-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics