Evaluation of the psychosocial aspects of the patients applying to the university cosmetology unit

Objective: It is important to evaluate cosmetic patients psychologically and thus minimize potential adverse psychological outcomes that may occur after the procedure. This study aimed to investigate the psychosocial parameters in cosmetic patients. Materials and methods: Female patients (≥18 years old) who applied to the Ege University Dermatology and Venereal Diseases Department Cosmetology Unit were selected. ''Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale'', ''Body Image Coping Strategies Inventory'', ''Temperament and Character Inventory'', ''Dermatology Quality of Life Index'' and ''Life Events' Checklist-5 '' forms were applied to the patients. The obtained data were analyzed statistically. Results: There were 36 people in the case group and 34 participants in the control group. A statistically significant difference was not found regarding life quality, anxiety, body image disturbance, and personally experienced life events between the two groups. Reward dependence, empathy, and purposefulness were significantly higher in the cosmetic group. Conclusion: The life quality was not negatively affected, the incidence of anxiety and depression was low, traumatic events were rare, and positive rational acceptance was mostly chosen as the main method of coping with body image negativities in cosmetic patients. Compared with controls, cosmetic patients demonstrated higher reward dependence, empathy, and purposefulness scores, without evidence of increased psychopathology.