Original article EVALUATION OF THE DEGREE OF SATISFACTION WITH FACIAL AESTHETICS IN THE POST-OPERATIVE SURGERY OF BARIATRIC SURGERY

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
Introduction: Obesity is defined as an abnormal amount of fat in the adipose tissue. Treatment options include supervised diet, psychological support, and physical exercise. When these treatments are not effective, bariatric surgery is the most recommended intervention. Among patients who undergo gastroplasty, a common complaint is flaccidity of both the body and the face. Goals: This study aimed to assess patients' satisfaction regarding their facial aesthetics during the postoperative period of bariatric surgery, after receiving speech-language therapy intervention. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study with patients enrolled in the Obesity Control and Surgery Program at a general hospital in 2022 and 2023. Results: The study included 137 participants, with a median age of 47 years (83.9% female), with the majority of them being married (49.6%). Among the participants, 52.6% performed speech-language exercises 2 to 3 times a day. We measured satisfaction using the BODY-Q, which showed that 61.3% to 67.2% of participants were completely satisfied. Additionally, we found a positive correlation between the frequency of exercise and the level of satisfaction (r=0.332; p<0.001). Conclusions: Participants who underwent speech-language therapy intervention exhibited a high degree of satisfaction with their facial aesthetics post-bariatric surgery. This finding highlights the importance of implementing speech-language therapy to improve satisfaction with facial aesthetics in individuals undergoing bariatric procedures.
KEYWORDES: Speech-Language Intervention; Aesthetics; Obesity; Patient Satisfaction.