The Psychological Benefits of Aging Gracefully: How Appearance Impacts – Rejûvaskin

Patients often link how they look with how they feel about themselves. Research shows that both surgical and nonsurgical aesthetic treatments can improve self-esteem, body image, and quality of life when used thoughtfully. As people age or go through life events like childbirth, supporting appearance-related concerns can have real psychological benefits.

Plastic Surgery and Self-Confidence
Breast reduction and reconstruction patients often report significant improvements in psychosocial and sexual well-being, measured through validated tools like the BREAST-Q (Kerrigan et al. 2012; Pusic et al. 2009). Facial procedures, including rhinoplasty and nonsurgical fillers, also show higher satisfaction with appearance and quality of life outcomes (Meulen et al. 2019; Banfield et al. 2023).

Nonsurgical Aesthetics and Skin Health
Injectables like botulinum toxin and fillers are associated with improved confidence and quality-of-life scores (Spring et al. 2022; Kalluri & Lee 2023). Addressing acne and acne scarring not only clears skin but also reduces social withdrawal and depression symptoms (Kapur et al. 2016; Tan et al. 2021).

Obstetric and Postpartum Considerations
Childbirth-related changes, including perineal trauma and pelvic floor injury, can affect sexual health and self-image. Early recognition and pelvic floor therapy improve outcomes (Barreto et al. 2019; Schiøtz et al. 2018). While interest in “vaginal rejuvenation” procedures has grown, evidence of psychological benefit remains limited, and professional guidelines stress careful counseling (ACOG 2020; Lloyd et al. 2020).

Key Takeaway for Clinics
Appearance and confidence are closely linked. Evidence-based aesthetic and postpartum interventions can improve emotional health when offered with realistic expectations and psychological screening. Physicians who combine physical treatments with attention to mental well-being provide the best outcomes for their patients.

References

ACOG Committee Opinion No. 795. Elective Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery. Obstet Gynecol. 2020;135(1):e36-e42.
Banfield C, et al. Aesthetic Surg J. 2023;43(6):NP600-NP609.
Barreto CN, et al. Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2019;53:e03406.
Kapur S, et al. Br J Dermatol. 2016;174(6):1201-1208.

Kalluri P, Lee MJ. JAMA Facial Plast Surg. 2023;25(1):66-73.

Kerrigan CL, et al. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2012;129(3):678-686.

Lloyd J, et al. BMJ Open. 2020;10(8):e036832.
Meulen IJ, et al. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019;143(1):160-170.
Pusic AL, et al. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009;124(2):345-353.
Schiøtz HA, et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018;218(3):325.e1-325.e7.
Spring LK, et al. Dermatol Surg. 2022;48(2):195-202.
Tan JKL, et al. Int J Dermatol. 2021;60(9):1089-1097.