Body image and the process of reconstructive surgery
M. L. Belfer, A. M. Harrison and J. E. Murray
Newer craniofacial operative techniques produce rapid changes in objective
appearance and permit the study of body-image change. In 21 patients with
either Crouzon's disease or Alpert's syndrome, a four-factor model of
body-image development was applied that emphasizes cognitive growth,
perception of body stimuli, stimuli from the environment in the form of
comparison, and the response from others. Before a child is of school age,
he has substantially defined his body image, therefore corrective surgery
must be considered earlier. Although surgical intervention may produce
significant objective physical change, there is not a correspondingly rapid
change in body image. Four phases in the modification of body image are (1)
the decision to undergo surgery, (2) the operative experience, (3) the
immediate postoperative period, and (4) the reintegration stage.
Recognition of this phasic process will help integrate care of these
patients.
