BODY-IMAGE CONCERNS OF RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY PATIENTS - AN UNDERRECOGNIZED PROBLEM

This study assessed the body image concerns of reconstructive plastic surgery patients, Forty-three reconstructive surgery patients complete d two measures of body image. Responses were compared with a group of patients seeking cosmetic procedures, The two groups did not differ in the degree of dissatisfaction with their overall appearance or dissat isfaction with the specific feature for which they were seeking surger y, Reconstructive patients did consider themselves less healthy and le ss invested in their appearance than did cosmetic patients, Seven of t he reconstructive surgery patients (all scar revision patients) report ed a level of dissatisfaction and preoccupation consistent with the ps ychiatric diagnostic of body dysmorphic disorder. These results unders core the importance of screening for body image dissatisfaction in per sons with an objective deformity, Plastic surgeons are in an optimal p osition to identify body image concerns in these patients and provide appropriate referrals for psychotherapy.