Abdominoplasty and Its Effect on Body Image, Self-Esteem, and Mental Health

• Published in: Annals of plastic surgery Vol. 65; no. 1; pp. 5 - 10
• Main Authors: AZEVEDO DE BRITO, Maria José, XERFAN NAHAS, Fábio, JARDINI BARBOSA, Marcus Vinicius, MOREIRA DINI, Gal, KENJI KIMURA, Alexandro, BUFONI FARAH, Andréia, MASAKO FERREIRA, Lydia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01-07-2010
• Subjects: Abdominal Wall - surgery; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Body Image; Brazil; Case-Control Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Surveys; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Quality of Life - psychology; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures - psychology; Rectus Abdominis - surgery; Self Concept; Social Adjustment; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surveys and Questionnaires; Brazil; Plasty; Plastic surgery; Self esteem; Treatment; Body image; Mental health
• ISSN: 0148-7043; 1536-3708
• DOI: 10.1097/SAP.0b013e3181bc30f7

The impact of abdominoplasty on the quality of life of abdominoplasty patients was assessed 1- and 6-months postoperatively. Forty women aged 25 to 60 years were divided into study group (25 patients who underwent abdominoplasty) and waiting-list control group (15 patients). Three questionnaires (Body Shape Questionnaire [BSQ], Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale [RSE/UNIFESP], and Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire [SF-36]) were administered to the study group (preoperatively, 1- and 6-months postoperatively) and control group (on 2 occasions 6 months apart). A significant positive impact on body image, self-esteem, and mental health was found 1- and 6-months postoperatively. Significant differences were observed in role physical, role emotional, and vitality 1-month postoperatively. In the control group, significant differences were found for vitality. There was a significant improvement in Comparative perception of body image (6-month assessment) in the study group compared with controls. Abdominoplasty improved body image, self-esteem, and mental health.