depressionDepression is common following cosmetic surgery. There are several factors that contribute to post-operative depression, including:
- The anticipation and stress of preparing for surgery can have a rebound effect
- The medications, anesthesia and trauma of the surgery have physical effects that will affect your emotional well-being
- Stress and fear regarding complications and disfigurement
- Refraining from exercise can make you feel tired, blue, and out of sorts
- Adjusting to your new look
- Dealing with family and friends reactions to your surgery
- Financial stress
- Feeling guilty about having the procedure
Expecting to have a downtime and accepting it as normal will help you get back to normal sooner. Take time to relax, meditate and care for yourself. It is also important to have support from others. Be sure to ask for help from others. You can also find support online with other people who have had the same procedure and may have similar experiences.
Research shows that overall depression rates decrease overall following cosmetic surgery. Mean scores for depression* improved from 11.2 preoperatively to 6.5 at 1 month, and to 6.3 at 6 months after surgery.
*using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD). Source: Rankin M, Borah G, Perry AW, Wey PD, Quality-of-life-outcomes after cosmetic surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1999 Sep;104(4):1209-10.
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recovery of cosmetic surgery
depression after plastic surgery
costs of top cosmetic surgery procedures
good candidate for plastic surgery
Before and After Photos
