Has Anyone Ever Shown Traumatic Mental Problems After Having Surgery?

asked 10 months ago by Barbjeen in Stafford, VA
Latest answer by Sam Naficy, MD
Question viewed 268 times
Tags: 3 months post-op, mental illness, options

My sister had a facelift in April and since then has been in mental distress. She refuses to look in a mirror and is having severe panic attacks. Neurologist tests are negative as are all other tests. She won't eat and lost 40 pounds. She doesn't swim in her pool anymore and does nothing but pace the house. She stopped wearing makeup and hasn't shaved her legs in two months. We are at a loss and don't know what else to do. Please help!

11 answers to Has Anyone Ever Shown Traumatic Mental Problems After Having Surgery?

Mental problems after Face Lift

This sounds like a clinical depression brought on perhaps by the trauma of the surgery itself or some unobtained aesthetic result. Regardless, of the cause, she should have professional evaluation and evaluation by a psychiatrist.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift - Has Anyone Ever Shown Traumatic Mental Problems After Having Surgery?

She needs psychiatric intervention as soon as possible. While many events can exacerbate underlying conditions, and that would include surgery, the suggestion is that there was a condition before-hand and I suspect that that's likely for your sister. She certainly is not displaying typical or appropriate behavior and it's likely that whatever she has was put "into crisis" by her procedure. Regardless, she needs to be seen by a psychiatrist as soon as... more

Alan Engler, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Mood Disorder After Facial Surgery

Your sister is having a significant mood disturbance and we would all be guessing as to why such a severe reaction may be occurring. I can tell you that this is not because of something that happened in the operating room or a reaction to anesthesia, but a reaction to something that has occurred after her surgery. This can be as simple as not liking the outcome, not accepting her new face, or guilt (as others have suggested). It can even be entirely unrelated to the surgery... more

Paul K. Holden, MD
Phoenix Facial Plastic Surgeon

Mental issues after surgery

This is definitely not common - your sister needs to seek help from a mental health specialist immediately to save her life

Sam Naficy, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Depression following Facelift

Depression following major surgery is not an uncommon clinical problem, we prepare our patients ahead of time that they may feel a little blue a few weeks after surgery. In rare cases antidepressants are prescribed and can be very helpful. It sounds like your sister has a deression that is more severe than what we usually see and she should seek psychiatric help as soon as possible. There is no reason that she should not respond to therapy and medication, but psychiatric evaluation and... more

Johan E. Brahme, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Post-face lift psychosis

In my practice we always advise patients that it is not unusual to experience a transient adjustment disorder or mild dysthymia for a week or two. Unfortunately, in your sister's case, it appears that the surgery caused a significant decompensation of extensive pre-existing psychological issues. I wonder if the decision to have the surgery was impulsive and quick and the surgeon was unable to detect psychological red flags that were only superficially compensated. In my opinion, your... more

Edwin Ishoo, MD
Boston Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bostoncosmeticsurgerycenter.com

Distress

Unfortunately, i have seen this. Your sister is severly depressed and needs help. This occurs after surgical complications, friends telling she looks no different or a preexisting history of depression. Good luck this is very hard to correct.

David A. Bray, Sr., MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Mental issues after facial surgery

It is clear that your sister is having an exaggerated response to her surgery, especially since it has been three months since surgery. It may help you, as the caretaker, to know what the "normal" response to surgery should be. First, surgery affects each person differently but there are common reactions that virtually everyone experiences. For the first two weeks it is common to have little energy which is magnified by general anesthesia, and many have adverse reactions to... more

Paul S. Howard, MD
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Mental Problems after Facelift

Although some people may have some difficulty adjusting to their new, improved appearance, in 35 years of doiing facelifts, I've never seen this kind of reaction after surgery. Your sister needs an evaluation by a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

This is most likely a shame based clinical depression.

Your sister needs professional psychological support. It is very like that she had some type of predisposition to clinical depression prior to surgery. However, the surgery can be the straw that breaks the camels back. Hopefully she is rational enough to agree to help. However, please understand that some issues are so back that the individual lack the insight to understand that they are harming themselves. She may even have a plan for doing herself it. I... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Mental Distress

I would get her to a psychologist and let them evaluate her. Although surgery can be stressful, her reaction is not a result of her surgery and she needs to be seen by someone who can help her.