Ethical, Legal, and Psychosocial Dimensions of Contemporary Plastic Surgery

This chapter addresses the complex ethical, medico-legal, and psychosocial considerations that define the contemporary practice environment of plastic surgery, encompassing informed consent in aesthetic procedures, the management of body dysmorphic disorder, and the safeguarding of vulnerable patient populations. It critically reviews the regulatory frameworks governing aesthetic practice across different healthcare systems, considers the implications of direct-to-consumer marketing and social media influence on surgical demand, and explores how an evidence-based understanding of psychological outcomes is reshaping patient selection criteria and postoperative care pathways.