Try out PMC Labs and tell us what you think. Learn More. There are a vast number of variables that influence recovery and rehabilitation from acquired facial trauma many of which are psychological in nature. The present paper presents the various psychological issues one comes across in facial trauma patients. These may range from body image issues to post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms accompanied by anxiety and depression. Issues related to facial and body image affecting social life and general quality of life are vital and the plastic surgeon should be aware of such issues and competent to deal with them in patients and families.

This article is only available in the PDF format. Download the PDF to view the article, as well as its associated figures and tables. With the rapid advance of reconstruction surgery during the past decade in technic, in availability to the public and in the types of disfigurement that have been treated, new interest has developed in this field. The experience of surgeons has been, however, that the benefit derived is not always in keeping with the results. They have found patients who have benefited both in body and in mind but also patients who, although they have experienced very creditable surgical results, have remained unsatisfied and have shown that they are sick and maladjusted persons.

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Back to Healthy body. Learning how to be confident and handle other people's reactions can help people with disfigurements get more out of social interactions. Using positive body language and having a set of responses ready to use if people stare at you can be helpful.