Surgeons & Clinics
PRE & POST SURGERY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
Most patients considering having cosmetic surgery will receive medical and sales information during their patient journey. Increasingly insurers and associations such as BAPRAS and BAAPS are calling for clinics and surgeons to provide a space dedicated to focussing on the wider psychological, mental and emotional well-being of patients.
BAPRAS (The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons) and The Nuffield Bioethics recommend that surgeons and practitioners should be expected, as a minimum, to have access to psychological expertise and be part of a multi-disciplinary team to best support patients having surgery.
BAPRAS and Nuffield Bioethics have their own standards of practice and strongly recommend that surgeons and practitioners should:
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Make attempts to identify the psychologically vulnerable patient and, where they have concerns, be prepared to avoid or defer operating pending psychological assessment.
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Refer a patient to a mental health expert when they consider that the psychological state of the patient may affect their satisfaction with the outcome of surgery; or when surgeons consider that the expectations of the outcome of surgery are unrealistic, and this discrepancy is not resolved as part of the consultation.
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Refer a patient for pre-operative screening or counselling where the patient has a history of repeated cosmetic procedures, particularly where those are in one anatomical area and there is evidence of dissatisfaction.
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Refer a patient, as above, when the patient’s mental health history reveals co-existing psychological disturbances.
As a clinic or independent surgeon are you confident that you can demonstrate that the way you are working is in line with best practice guidelines in taking a patient's psychological wellbeing into account?
If you would like help with this then do get in touch and we can arrange a phone call or to meet at your practice to discuss your needs further.
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Areas which need dedicated exploration and consideration before a patient is approved as mentally and emotionally suitable for surgery include:
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Their reasons for surgery, often rooted in more complex motivations and influences other than simply wishing to enhance their appearance
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Conscious and unconscious internal and external influences, such as relationships, familial, cultural, religious, and societal factors; prejudices, advertising, popular culture and social media
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Their expectations about the outcome and understanding of the risks and potential side effects
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Their ability to manage stress or adverse events
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Their current life situation, such as family, support network and work
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Their current lifestyle (e.g. sleep, exercise, eating patterns, drinking, smoking, drug misuse) and relevant history
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Their understanding of any necessary lifestyle changes and their ability and motivation to commit to these (such as maintaining a healthy diet and exercise, any need for ongoing or further treatment)
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Any previous or current psychological concerns that could potentially impact their adjustment to having surgery or the surgical outcome
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Issues and feelings relating to Body image dissatisfaction and BDD
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Eating-related problems (disordered eating, binge eating; emotional eating)
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Any other psychological issues, such as depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide ideation (either current or in the past)
At the end of the assessment, I will discuss any recommendations or on-going treatment options available to the patient, where appropriate.
SERVICES I CAN PROVIDE TO YOUR CLINIC OR PRACTICE
‘’Psychology is to surgery what physiotherapy is to orthopaedics. You wouldn’t give someone a joint replacement without being clear you had physiotherapy lined up and someone engaged in their aftercare." [Special Interest Group of Psychologists (SIG) in conjunction with the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)]
I can help your practice as a trained professional by providing: