So, you’re thinking of surgery. Perhaps rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, a facelift, or any other surgery that you choose with the desired outcome of looking better. But what you may or may not realise is the likelihood that you will not only look better, you can potentially feel better about yourself after surgery. We take a look at the potential of psychological benefits of surgery.
An in-depth study Publisheded by APS (Association for Psychological Science) titled the Psychological Effects of Aesthetic Surgery revealed that there are indeed many potential positive psychological benefits under-going aesthetic surgery. While these benefits are likely, they come with a few caveats, such as the expectations you would have in relation to the outcomes of your surgery.
Some of the wide range of benefits identified for those that undergo an elective surgery to address aesthetic concerns include the more obvious benefits, such as an increase in self-esteem and confidence that aesthetic surgery can give you.
Some of the other cited benefits vary across a wide range of outcomes, though they are primarily, positive psychologically. These outcomes can include a decrease in social anxiety, a lessening of feelings of depression, an increase in goal attainment, a general sense of life satisfaction and an increase in both mental and physical health.
As mentioned, the potential of psychological benefits can be linked to the expectations you would have prior to surgery. Other factors that could impact the psychological benefits include your age, as the older you are, the more realistic your expectations are. The motivation of having the surgery is also important. For instance, undergoing a procedure to please a partner is not considered a healthy motivation and can result in poor psychological outcomes. A history of depression, anxiety, or personality disorder could also negatively affect any positive psychological benefits.
I know from my own personal journey how much better I feel about myself after a successful procedure. Having said that, surgery is serious, and shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you wish to join our closed Facebook community to connect with other women on their journey, click here.
