Background In all branches of medicine, it is the surgeon's responsibility to provide the patient
with accurate information before surgery. This is especially important in cosmetic
surgery because the surgeon must focus on the aesthetic results desired by the patient.
Methods An experimental protocol was developed based on an original questionnaire given to
72 patients. The nature of the responses, the patients' motivation and expectations,
the degree of patient awareness regarding the planned operation, and the patients'
perceptions of the purpose of the required consent for cosmetic surgery were all analyzed
using Fisher's exact test.
Results Candidates for abdominal wall surgery had significantly more preoperative psychological
problems than their counterparts did (P=0.035). A significantly different percentage
of patients under 40 years of age compared to those over 40 years of age searched
for additional sources of information prior to the operation (P=0.046). Only 30% of
patients with a lower educational background stated that the preoperative information
had been adequate, whereas 92% of subjects with secondary schooling or a postsecondary
degree felt that the information was sufficient (P=0.001). A statistically significant
difference was also present between patients according to their educational background
regarding expected improvements in their quality of life postoperatively (P=0.008).
Conclusions This study suggests that patients require more attention in presurgical consultations
and that clear communication should be prioritized to ensure that the surgeon understands
the patient's expectations.
Keywords
Informed consent - Cosmetic surgery - Quality of life - Aesthetic
