Five-year follow-up of cosmetic rhinoplasty

The psychological impact of rhinoplasty for aesthetic reasons on psychologi cal well-being is controversial. The aim of the present study is to assess short- and long-term psychological changes in patients who underwent rhinop lasty. Seventy-nine patients, without traumatic lesions, who presented for cosmetic surgery, completed the MPI scales for Neuroticism and Extroversion and the IPAT scale for Anxiety, 3 months before and 6 months and 5 years a fter surgery. Results showed a significant decrease of anxiety and neurotic ism in both postoperative evaluations and an increase on the Extroversion s cale only at the 6-month follow-up. Psychological distress persisted in mos t patients after the operation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.