Plastic Surgery and Postoperative Depression

Plastic surgery,

whether performed for cosmetic or reconstructive reasons, involves recovery
period which may last for several days to months, depending on the treated
area, extensiveness of the incisions, and patient’s healing ability.
Because recovery after surgery involves pain and discomfort,
it is not uncommon for some patients to experience anxiety and slight
depression during the period. And for
those who will undergo any facial rejuvenation surgery, feeling blue is more
common because of the swelling and bruising in their face which may take
several days or weeks to subside.
Feeling low especially during the first few days of recovery
is quite normal. This may be caused by the
effects of anesthesia, postsurgical traumatic stress syndrome, certain
medications that may lead to constipation and grogginess, and limited physical
movements. Plus, the fact that walking
or standing up straight is usually associated with slight discomfort.
But as the days go by, most of the postoperative symptoms
such as swelling and bruising start to drastically subside that patients can
already visualize the final result of the surgery. However, some may experience residual
swelling that may even last for several months.
For example, the residual swelling after rhinoplasty or “nose job” can take nine
months to a year to subside; with this consideration, a patient who wants to
have a revision surgery because she is not satisfied with the result should
wait for a certain period of time or until the swelling is completely gone.
While slight depression is normal during recovery, a patient
should consult her doctor if it lasts more than usual, affects her relationship
with other people, and prevents her to function well at work or school.
Meanwhile, it is not uncommon for some previously obese
patients who underwent bariatric surgery and then body lift (to remove the hanging skin in the abdomen, thighs, upper
arms, and other sagging areas) to feel depressed as food has been their source
of comfort and even addiction at some point in their lives.
Because some body lift patients who were previously obese
may experience depression, many plastic
surgeons nowadays work closely with behaviorists and psychologists to help
their patients stick to a healthy lifestyle, which in turn will allow them to maintain
the result throughout their lives.
It is important to note that while touch-ups after body lift
are fairly common (5 to 15 percent), repeated procedures are generally not good
because of additional scarring and higher cost of surgery.