Social issues and body image concerns of port wine stain patients undergoing laser therapy.

When applying lasers to treatment of port wine stains and other flaws of appearance, the physician needs to have an appreciation of the psychological and social aspects of body image as well as the physical aspect. A number of aspects of our society impinge upon port wine stain patients to make their condition psychologically burdensome. Fortunately, the 82 patients in our sample have received extraordinary support from family members in coping with their affliction. As a group they do not display an unusual degree of emotional disturbance in comparision with a normal control population. However, their initial expectations tend to be unrealistically perfectionistic, and many seem to be unwilling to absorb the fact that laser treatment is accompanied by certain hazards and limitations. An especially conscientious adherence to the canons of informed consent with these patients is therefore recommended.