Psychological health and expectations of patients seeking cosmetic rhinoplasty

Cosmetic rhinoplasty is now carried out increasingly in an attempt to solve the psychological and social problems of people who are discontent with their nose. Little is known about either the psychological status of persons who seek rhinoplasty or potential psychological changes following surgery. The challenge that faces surgeons, is how to identify, before surgical intervention those patients who may have a poor outcome in terms of psychological adjustment despite a technically satisfactory result. Atotal of 96 patients (84 women and 12 men) who were seeking cosmetic rhinoplasty were selected and completed an adopted expectation questionnaire and SCL-90-R, a 90 item self-report symptom inventory which measures 9 primary symptom dimensions. It is designed primarily to reflect the psychological symptom patterns of psychiatric and medical patients. The majority of the patients reported that their noses made them selfconscious, and thought the rhinoplasty would change their lives. Interpersonal sensitivity and anxiety were the most reported symptoms in SCL-90-R, followed by obsessive- compulsive symptoms and depression. The findings of this study enhance our understanding of psychological factors in seeking rhinoplasty and provide insight into the surgical-psychological management of these patients.