Personality characteristics of patients seeking cosmetic rhinoplasty.

[BACKGROUND] Rhinoplasty is one of the most common cosmetic surgeries performed on the face. Cosmetic surgery is performed not only to change the appearance, level of satisfaction, and self-confidence of the patient, it may also reflect specific personality patterns. The goal of this study was to investigate the personality characteristics of individuals seeking cosmetic rhinoplasty.

[METHODS] Thirty patients referred for rhinoplasty and 30 healthy age- and gender-matched controls were enrolled in this case-control study. All participants filled out the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory 3rd edition and the data were analyzed using ANOVA and Fisher's exact test.

[RESULTS] Twenty-four (80 %) females and 6 (20 %) males were evaluated. Dependent, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders were seen in 2, 3, and 8 patients in the case group, respectively. The number of individuals with narcissistic personality traits was significantly higher in the case group than in the control group (p < 0.001).

[CONCLUSION] Narcissism is the most common psychological trait that motivates patients to seek a rhinoplasty. Personality disorders are not very common among individuals seeking rhinoplasty in Iran.

[LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV] This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.