According to the journal, Clinical Psychological Science, researchers found that new plastic surgery patients had a higher self-confidence and self-esteem than before their procedure. Out of 550 first-time patients, only 12% of those patients actually had unrealistic expectations of how their surgery would transform them and their lives. Also tested in this study were 260 individuals who always wanted plastic surgery but ultimately decided not to go through with it.
Patients were tested several intervals before, during and after their procedure and therapy. Compared to those that chose to not go through with the plastic surgery, the first-time plastic surgery patients claimed to feel healthier, less anxious, more attractive and more confident. In addition, those who went through their procedure reported that they were happier with their bodies as a whole, not just the area that had work done.
The increase of self-esteem following surgery could be defined by the growth of individuals who have decided to go under the knife for quite some time. This last year, more than 10 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the U.S. alone. The most popular procedures included breast augmentation, liposuction, abdominoplasty and eyelid surgery.
