Are Nose Job Patients Normal?

All different types of people choose to undergo cosmetic surgery, but according to a controversial study, rhinoplasty (nose job) patients have one thing in common: none of them are “normal.”

A team of researchers, in an attempt to determine the relationship between patient satisfaction and personality, made an interesting, if not contentious, discovery in the process. Using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, or MMPI, they evaluated 66 nose job candidates and a non-patient control group. While 40% of the control group rated as normal on the MMPI scale, none of the rhinoplasty patients did.

The patients exhibited a range of personality disorders, with 23% rating as obsessive and 20% qualifying as hypochondriacs. Those who were satisfied with their new noses were found to fall into the categories of depressed or “good faking” (stating untruths that make one’s situation seem better).

There was also a strong correlation between being rated as antisocial or psychasthenic (having excessive or unreasonable doubts and fears) and being unhappy with results. This association has led the researchers to believe that these types of negative personality traits need to be identified before rhinoplasty and should potentially prevent it from going forward.

Ultimately, this approach should be true of any kind of cosmetic surgery. Unless you’re electing a procedure with realistic expectations and stable emotional health, you may not be an appropriate candidate.

Do you think this study makes a valid point? Is it insulting? Tell us what you think by leaving a comment below.