Patients' health related quality of life before and after aesthetic surgery.

Klassen A, Jenkinson C, Fitzpatrick R, Goodacre T

ObjectivesTo assess the health related quality of life of patients before and after aesthetic surgery.DesignA survey by questionnaire of patients before receiving surgery and 6 months after surgery.Sample656 patients anticipating surgery were sent a preoperative questionnaire, to which 443 replied. Subsequently 259 of these received a postoperative questionnaire, of which 198 were returned.Outcome measuresHealth status was assessed using three standardised health status instruments (The Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale. Comparisons were made between the health status of the plastic surgery patients and that of a random sample of the general population.ResultsPatients receiving breast reduction surgery experienced significant improvements on all three health status measures. Patients in all surgical groups experienced significant improvements in self-esteem.ConclusionsPatients receiving aesthetic surgery experience a wide range of physical, psychological and social problems. Surgery was shown be effective at addressing these problems. Health status assessment provides a valid and independent method for measuring the effects of such health care interventions.

Keywords:

Abdomen

,

Ear, External

,

Humans

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Treatment Outcome

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Mammaplasty

,

Rhinoplasty

,

Postoperative Period

,

Health Status Indicators

,

Follow-Up Studies

,

Self Concept

,

Esthetics

,

Surgery, Plastic

,

Quality of Life

,

Adolescent

,

Adult

,

Aged

,

Middle Aged

,

Female

,

Male