Pre- and postsurgical psycho-emotional aspects of the orthognathic surgery patient.

The current study represents an attempt to examine psychologic changes, emotional impact, expectations, and satisfaction in patients before and after orthognathic surgery. Levels of presurgical anxiety, postsurgical depression, body concept, and all the important changes in physiologic functions were measured by 4 questionnaires, which were self-administered before and after surgery. The results of this study suggest that surgery does, in fact, produce improvements in self-esteem and body image (patient's evaluation of his or her facial attractiveness) and in mastication and speech, and therefore in their lifestyle. All patients experienced a medium to high level of presurgical anxiety, but no major problems after surgery.