Psychiatric Contributions to the Clinical Management of Plastic-Surgery Patients

Abstract

Fifty-four of 157 plastic-surgery patients seen in a two year period had psychologic problems important to their clinical management. Case reports are presented to demonstrate the types of clinical problems and the application of psychiatric principles. A psychiatrist makes four specific contributions to the clinical management of plastic-surgery patients: identification of severe personality problems, clarification of expectations and motivations, definitive psychotherapeutic intervention, and facilitation of healthy psychologic development made possible by surgery.