| PRS 0308-626 Bolton
Bolton MA, Pruzinsky T, Cash TF, Persing JA.
Measuring outcomes in plastic surgery: body image and quality of life in
abdominoplasty patients.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003 Aug;112(2):619-25; discussion 626-7. PMID: 12900625
Section of Plastic Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
06520, USA.
Abdominoplasty is an increasingly common aesthetic surgery procedure that has
yet to be evaluated using the most recently developed and psychometrically
sophisticated measures of body image and quality-of-life outcomes. This study
prospectively evaluated 30 consecutive female abdominoplasty patients,
preoperatively and postoperatively, using measures of body image, psychological
investment in appearance, and general psychosocial functioning. One-way
repeated-measures (pretest versus posttest) analyses of variance revealed
significant positive postsurgical changes on the Appearance Evaluation subscale
of the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire. Mean scores for the
questionnaire's Body Areas Satisfaction Scale improved postoperatively (p <
0.001). Scores for the Body Exposure and Sexual Relations Questionnaire also
improved significantly (p < 0.001) postoperatively. These findings indicate
significant improvements in body image outcome, including positive changes in
patients' evaluations of their overall appearance, their average body image
dissatisfaction, and their experiences of self-consciousness and avoidance of
body exposure during sexual activities. As predicted, no changes were seen on
any measure of psychological investment in appearance or on patients' reports of
general psychosocial functioning (self-esteem, satisfaction with life, or social
anxiety).
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