Recent research confirms that patients and their families can experience a range of problems at different times in their recovery and that many of their concerns relate to wanting more information, more support and advice as well as the chance to meet other people or families with similar experiences.

Particular psycho-social difficulties which patients can encounter include:

• Functional problems which can inhibit or slow down return to work or school;

• Confusion about surgical choices and decisions;

• Grief and bereavement issues which can be reflected in anger, depression etc;

• Post-trauma e.g. nightmares or flashbacks;

• Social interaction problems such as managing other people’s staring or curiosity;

• Managing other people's reactions including name-calling, ostracism, discrimination;

• Social support concerns around family and/or partner;

• Negative views of future with disfigurement.

From the evidence of patient experience (both anecdotal and academic research), Changing Faces believes that the best long-term, psycho-social adjustments are made where appropriately resourced health and social care professionals can effectively address and bolster the four factors that are found to promote successful adjustment: positive beliefs, quality social support, good information and effective social skills.

Changing Faces has designed a package of help that promotes “living with…” – which can be called “disfigurement life-skills”.

This FACES package should enable individual patients and their families in:

• Finding out: to gain realistic information about their condition and its treatment

• Attitude-building: to develop a positive outlook and beliefs about the future

• Counselling: to have access to counsellors trained in disfigurement issues

• Exchanging: to share experiences with others in similar situations

• Social skills: to learn the skills to handle the reactions of strangers, friends etc.

We believe that individuals with disfiguring conditions (of all levels of severity), and their families, should routinely have local access to this package of support in self-help and/or professionally-delivered formats.

Psycho-social rehabilitation requires a multi-disciplinary approach including: surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, ward cleaners, social workers, dieticians, hospital school teachers - all have a significant and appropriate role to play.

If you are interested in finding out more about how your team can address the psycho-social needs of your patients and families, please click here.