The psychosocial outcomes following cosmetic surgery are largely unknown: A systematic review

Garbett, Kirsty M.; Paraskeva, Nicole; White, Paul; Lewis-Smith, Helena; Smith, Harriet; Anquandah, Jason; Diedrichs, Phillippa C.

Abstract

Introduction: Cosmetic surgery is marketed and widely assumed to have positive psychosocial outcomes, particularly in relation to body image, self-esteem and mental health. The present systematic review aimed to conduct a timely, up-to-date assessment of the existing academic empirical literature, applying stringent inclusion criteria to summarise only the highest quality of evidence in the field.
Methods: Databases (EBSCO; Cochrane Library; Scopus; ProQuest) were systematically searched. Screening was completed by two independent reviewers. Prospective studies that utilised a control cohort to examine at least one psychosocial outcome using a validated measure following cosmetic surgery were included. Risk of was double assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool.
Results: Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria. Heterogeneity across research designs, control groups, measures, and statistical analyses was evident. Overall, the quality of studies was poor. Results suggest short-term improvements in some psychosocial outcomes following cosmetic surgery (particularly in relation to body-area-specific satisfaction, self-esteem, sexual well-being and physical well-being), with little and mixed evidence for outcomes such as mental health, holistic body image, quality of life and social functioning. Very few studies explored psychosocial outcomes beyond 6-months post-surgery.
Conclusion: Current evidence regarding psychosocial outcomes following cosmetic surgery is weak. There is an urgent need to conduct high-quality research, which will require collaboration between surgeons, research psychologists and methodologists. Recommendations include pre-registration, larger sample sizes, longer-term follow-up and appropriate control group recruitment. Given the increasing uptake in cosmetic surgery globally, this should be a priority for the field.

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Mar 3, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Mar 7, 2025
• Publication Date: May 31, 2025
• Deposit Date: Mar 6, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 9, 2025
• Print ISSN: 1748-6815
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 104
• Pages: 282-297
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2025.03.013
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13914753