EPA-0041 - Trauma Related Aesthetic Surgery in Adolescents Requires a Fully Engaged Psychiatric Management Plan to Support Their Long Term Psychiatric Health

Abstract

Aims:

To investigate psychiatric implications of aesthetic surgery on adolescents.

Background:

Aesthetic surgery is carried out on adolescents for many reasons, often with a central aim being to aid their social inclusion and interaction. However there is anecdotal evidence that suggests stigma associated with this causes psychiatric repercussions for the children alter in life

Methods:

4 patients who had undergone aesthetic surgery due to trauma in their adolescent years were interviewed. Their responses were then qualitatively analysed. This was approved by Meducation ethics committee.

Results:

3 of the patients felt that the surgery had benefitted them and that they had adequate psychiatric support to deal with the impact of the surgery, 1 didn’t. All patients feel they have current impaired mental health as a result of having the surgery. All 4 feel this is not as bad as if they had not had the surgery. We also investigated the way they spoke about their surgery, and found the 1 patient who had not received psychiatric support was more outspoken regarding the surgery, in comparison to the other 3 patients more composed responses.

Conclusions:

Long term psychiatric outcomes of adolescent patients undergoing aesthetic surgery for trauma injuries are improved with postoperative psychiatric support.