Skip to main content
Log in

The psychology of aesthetic plastic surgery

  • Published:
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aesthetic plastic surgery and psychology are closely linked, as the aesthetic plastic surgeon is dealing with people's emotional, psychological, and social needs and aspirations. This article presents an overview of the relationship between the two professional disciplines. The minority of patients with psychiatric or psychological problems is described, and their treatment is considered in relation to both disciplines. We then move on to discuss the psychological and social issues that underlie mainstream aesthetic surgery in the context of the psychological theory of stigma. The role of the psychologist within aesthetic surgery is discussed.

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

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Edgerton MT, Langman MW, Pruzinsky TP: Plastic surgery and psychotherapy in the treatment of 100 psychologically disturbed patients. Plast Reconstr Surg 88(4): 594–608,1991

    Google Scholar 

  2. Fonaghy P: The Theory and Practice of Resilience. Emmanuel Miller Memorial Lecture, presented at the European Conference of the Association for Child Psychology and Psychiatry, York, England, 1992

  3. Goffman E: Stigma: notes on the management of spoiled identity. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1963

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kraepelin E: Manic Depressive Insanity and Paranoia. New York: Amo Press, 1921; translated by Barclay RM, edited by Robertson GM. Edinburgh: Livingstone, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  5. MacGregor FC: The place of the patient in society. Aesth Plast Surg 5(1):19–26, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  6. Munro A: Delusional hypochondriasis: A description of monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis. Monogr Ser 5. Toronto: Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  7. Munro A: Monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis. Br J Psych 153(Suppl 2):37–40, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  8. Phillips KA, McElroy SL, Keck PE, Pope HG, Hudson JI: Body dysmorphic disorder: 30 cases of imagined ugliness. Am J Psych 150(2):302–308, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  9. Slator R, Harris DL: Are rhinoplasty patients potentially mad? Br J Plast Surg 45:307–310, 1992

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bradbury, E. The psychology of aesthetic plastic surgery. Aesth. Plast. Surg. 18, 301–305 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00449799

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00449799

Key words

Navigation