To investigate psychiatric implications of aesthetic surgery on adolescents.

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

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.

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.

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