The relationship between self‐esteem and hair transplantation satisfaction in male androgenetic alopecia patients

Summary

Background

Frustrated with the embarrassing appearance, patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) suffer from poor quality of life and low self‐esteem. Moreover, several researches indicate that self‐esteem is an important factor affecting outcomes of cosmetic surgery.

Objective

This retrospective study aims to investigate the impact of hair transplantation on patients' self‐esteem and satisfaction with appearance, as well as relationship between self‐esteem and patient satisfaction which includes preoperative and postoperative satisfaction.

Methods

The preoperative and 9‐month postoperative self‐esteem were evaluated by Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale (RSES), and preoperative satisfaction indicators (satisfaction with appearance, visual age and expected visual age) were assessed by Face‐Q scale. At the same time, postoperative satisfaction indicators (satisfaction with appearance, visual age, satisfaction with decision, psychological well‐being, and social function) were reevaluated as well.

Results

Of the 1106 male AGA patients, 875 completed a 9‐month postoperative questionnaire. Compared with preoperative scores, postoperative scores of self‐esteem and satisfaction with appearance showed an increase of 1.56 and 30.25 respectively (P < 0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that patients with high self‐esteem level trended to have higher scores of postoperative satisfaction with appearance (P = 0.129), psychological well‐being (P = 0.168), social function (P = 0.027), and satisfaction with decision (P = 0.043) compared with patients with low and average self‐esteem level.

Conclusion

Hair transplantation significantly elevated self‐esteem level and increased satisfaction with appearance of AGA patients. Meanwhile, patients with low self‐esteem level trended to have worse postoperative satisfaction. Thus, apart from ensuring the quality of operation, plastic surgeons should offer guidance based on patients' psychological state to improve postoperative satisfaction.

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