“Psychological well‐being as a motive for and result of post‐bariatric body contouring procedures”

Abstract Objective This study investigates whether psychological well‐being in post‐bariatric patients seeking body contouring procedures differ from those who do not seek body contouring procedures, those who have already undergone body contouring procedures, and those who are unsure about body contouring procedures. Methods An anonymous, nonrandomized, cross‐sectional survey study was designed. Psychological well‐being of four groups of post‐bariatric‐patients (undergone body contouring procedures, seeking body contouring procedures, not seeking body contouring procedures, unsure about body contouring procedures) was compared. Results A total of 345 patients were included in this study. No significant difference between patients seeking body contouring procedures and those not seeking body contouring procedures was found with regard to depressive symptoms, self‐esteem, and body image. Patients who had already undergone body contouring procedures scored lower on depressive symptoms (p=.035), and reported to feel more attractive (p<.001) and less insecure (p=.030) than patients who had not undergone body contouring procedures yet but seeked it. Satisfaction with the result of the body contouring procedures was associated with lower depression levels (p<.001), higher self‐esteem (p<.001) and a more positive body‐image (p<.001). Conclusions Depressive symptoms or a low self‐esteem are not motivational factors for post‐bariatric patients to seek body contouring procedures. body contouring procedures is, however, associated with improvement in psychological well‐being in post‐bariatric patients. The patients’ satisfaction with the result of the body contouring procedures is significantly associated with positive psychological well‐being. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.