The Presentation of Personalities in Plastic Surgery

Abstract

This research was of 133 plastic surgery patients over a 1.5-year period. Data compilation and assessment began with the initial consultation and continued through the postoperative period of care. Patients were categorized according to their similarity to the personality disorder descriptions found within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition revised, of the American Psychiatric Association. In addition, each patient was evaluated on 13 separate psychological and social factors. It was found that many of the factors that precede a favorable plastic surgery experience, for both patients and physician, are the same characteristics disproportionately represented in various personality types. Objective assessments of surgical outcome were not found to be necessarily predictive of a patient's ultimate satisfaction. This research identified those personality types most likely to be dissatisfied, along with those personalities who tended to withhold their approval of an excellent surgical result. This research provided both statistical and qualitative analysis of the impact of personality, as well as several psychological and social variables, on plastic surgery. Numerous suggestions have been offered for successful patient care as derivative of personality type. The impact of patient and physician personality upon medical malpractice was explored. Reference summaries have been provided that describe and categorize patient behavior according to personality.

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