Volume 29, Issue 162, August 2025

Psychological Impact of Facial Scarring in Maxillofacial Trauma Patients: A Systematic Review

Jakub Górski^1♦, Marta Górska², Maciej Janowski², Paweł Czyż³, Antonina Strzałkowska²

¹Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska 251, 92-213, Lodz, Poland
²Central Teaching Hospital of Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska 251, 92- 213, Lodz, Poland
³Szpital Miejski im. Św. Wincentego a Paulo w Gdyni, ul. Wójta Radtkego 18 Gdynia, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Jakub Górski, Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska 251, 92-213, Lodz, Poland

ABSTRACT

The emotional toll of facial scars (particularly those left behind after mandibular or broader facial trauma) has often been brushed aside in clinical care or, at the very least, not fully acknowledged. Modern surgical techniques have advanced significantly, enhancing our ability to reconstruct facial structures, restore symmetry and muscle functionality. Many patients report that the scars are not only confined to the skin, but they also affect them emotionally and socially. They influence confidence, mental well-being, and daily social experiences. Impact scale depends mainly on location. It is especially harmful when scar is located proximate to the midlane, situated across the orbital cavity and the lips. In this review, we set out to explore the emotional and psychological aftermath faced by people living with facial scarring due to trauma. Research focused on the last two decades of studies, which covered a range of topics (including anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, and concerns about body image). We also considered how factors like age, gender, and social norms around appearance can change perceiving of scars. Facial scarring may lead to severe psychological distress. Recent studies have indicated that certain groups of people appear to be more vulnerable to this phenomenon than others. It has been demonstrated that younger demographics, women, and individuals whom appearance is linked to their proffesion are more likely to experince such psychological distress. Unfortunately, studies’ follow-up tends to be short, and the tools used to measure mental health outcomes are not always consistent.

Keywords: Scarring, Psychological Trauma, Maxillofacial Surgery

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e146ms3697

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i162.e146ms3697

Published: 27 August 2025