in the first set of photos, from just after the surgery, the incisions were “quite visible,” sobanko said. “that can be very jarring for patients.” at that point, each group felt differently about the scars: the patients gave their photos the lowest rating of the three groups, feeling that their scars were extremely obvious, and that they looked unappealing. the medical students gave the photos higher ratings than the patients, while the surgeons rated the photos more highly than either of the other groups.
three months after the surgery, the scars had healed more. patients at this point were much happier with the way scars looked on their faces: the overall response was about 40 per cent higher. but at this point, the medical students and the surgeons had a view that matched up — and they both rated the appearance of the scars as much better than the patients did.
“our research seems to support the saying ‘we are our own worst critics,’” the study’s senior author dr. joseph f. sobanko told penn’s news outlet. “patients are probably going to view scarring on their faces as more severe than their own surgeon will and even someone they walk by on the street.”
the study does have a small sample size, but it still produces information that’s undeniably helpful for patients. major facial changes, especially ones deemed “unattractive,” can have severe consequences on mental health.
a 2018 study
found that people with scars are more prone to feel shame and aggression, and to develop depression and anxiety.
another study
showed that the more visible a scar is, the more likely people are to deem it unattractive — and there’s hardly a more visible spot than the face.
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