Psychological Screening Measures for Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Patients: A Systematic Review

Overview

Objective: This systematic review evaluates self-report tools used for the psychological screening of cosmetic surgery patients before surgery.
Importance: Preoperative psychological assessment can improve surgical outcomes by understanding patient expectations and motivations and identifying those needing psychological referrals.

Literature Search: Articles were identified through databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, HAPI, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to November 2010.
Selection Process: Potentially relevant articles were examined by two reviewers based on pre-set inclusion criteria.

A wide range of instruments are currently used for preoperative assessments.
Limitations Identified: The validity and usefulness of these tools in the context of cosmetic surgery patients are limited.
Need for Development: There is a call for scientifically sound and clinically useful instruments for properly assessing cosmetic surgery patients.

Cosmetic Surgery: Elective surgical procedures to enhance appearance.
Screening Tools: Instruments or questionnaires used to assess patients' psychological readiness and suitability for surgery.
Self-Report: Method where patients provide information about their psychological state through questionnaires or forms.

Improved psychological screening can lead to better patient outcomes and satisfaction.
Development of a standardized tool could enhance the preoperative assessment process.

Petra Wildgoose, MD: Medical graduate at McMaster University, Canada.
Amie Scott, MS: Research Project Manager at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, NY.
Andrea L. Pusic, MD, MHS, FRCSC: Associate Professor at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, NY.
Stefan Cano, DPhil: Professor in the Department of Neurology at Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, UK.
Anne F. Klassen, DPhil: Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University, Canada.

The review emphasizes the need for better screening tools to accurately assess cosmetic surgery patients.
Psychological readiness can significantly influence the success and satisfaction with cosmetic surgery outcomes.