Hypnotherapy as an Adjunctive Therapy for Managing Pain and Anxiety During Recovery From Plastic Surgery: A Systematic Review

Postoperative pain and anxiety are significant challenges that can hinder patient recovery after plastic surgery. Hypnotherapy as a nonpharmacological adjunctive therapy offers a potential solution, but its effectiveness requires systematic evaluation. This systematic review aimed to assess the role of hypnotherapy in managing pain and anxiety during plastic surgery recovery. We conducted literature searches in PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials evaluating hypnotherapy in plastic surgery patients. Three trials, encompassing a total of 110 patients, met the inclusion criteria. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB 2.0) tool. Hypnotherapy reduced the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and significantly reduced postoperative pain intensity and intraoperative opioid consumption (e.g., remifentanil decreased from 761.4 mcg to 200 mcg, p = .034). Patient satisfaction was also higher in the hypnotherapy groups. However, the interventions did not produce significant differences in anxiety levels or surgical field quality. Overall, hypnotherapy appears to be a promising adjunct therapy for reducing pain, analgesic requirements, and postoperative PONV in plastic surgery patients. Nonetheless, the current evidence is preliminary and limited, underscoring the need for more rigorous research to confirm these findings and guide clinical application.