Abstract Background Body contouring surgery (BCS) following metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) significantly improves patients’ body satisfaction and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Despite the partner’s critical role in patients’ motivation, psychological adaptation, and weight maintenance, partner experiences after BCS are rarely explored. Objective To investigate partner satisfaction and perceptions after patients’ BCS, focusing on correlations between partner-reported physical attraction, emotional support, communication openness, and involvement in the surgical process. Methods In this single-center prospective cohort study, 116 MBS patients at UMC Ljubljana were followed, of whom 51 subsequently underwent BCS at General Hospital Novo Mesto. Partners completed a tailored questionnaire assessing domains including physical attraction, emotional support, relationship satisfaction, and sexual activity. Spearman’s correlation coefficients (R) analyzed associations between variables such as sexual desire, body image communication, and emotional involvement. Results Among 116 participants (93 female, 21 male, 2 unspecified), 51 (39 female, 10 male, 2 unspecified) underwent BCS. Patients who had body contouring surgery showed significantly higher scores on 12 BODY-Q scales: Q1 (P 0.001), Q3 (P 0.001), Q8 (P = 0.32), Q9 (P 0.001), Q10 (P 0.001), Q11 (P 0.001), Q12 (P = 0.033), Q13 (P 0.001), Q15 (P = 0.009), Q16 (P = 0.001), Q17 (P 0.001), Q21 (P = 0.01) and improved physical and social functioning on SF-36 (P = 0.004 and P = 0.035, respectively). Partners reported significantly greater satisfaction with their partner’s physical appearance—naked appearance (P = 0.017), silhouette (P = 0.016), chest (P = 0.020), breasts (P = 0.002), abdomen (P = 0.001), buttocks (P = 0.016), back (P = 0.003), arms (P = 0.002), and outer thighs (P = 0.004)—along with higher satisfaction in sexual relationship quality (P = 0.013) and frequency (P = 0.038). Correlation analyses revealed: partner-perceived physical attractiveness correlated with increased sexual desire (R = 0.257, P = 0.030); support during decision-making correlated with positive emotional involvement (R = 0.365, P = 0.002); openness in body image communication before and after surgery correlated strongly (R = 0.342, P = 0.003); and positive verbal affirmations about body image were highly correlated with increased physical attraction (R = 0.468, P 0.001). Conclusion Partner experiences following BCS highlight crucial relational dynamics, where emotional support, open communication, and affirmations of body image enhance intimacy and satisfaction. Integrating partners into post-bariatric care may improve patient outcomes and strengthen relationships. These findings support a holistic care approach extending beyond the patient to include their intimate partner.
Bohinc et al. (Thu,) studied this question.