When you decide to have a cosmetic surgical procedure and consult a plastic surgeon, one of the first things that you will be asked about is your perspectives. The surgeon will want to know what motivated you to consider going under the knife and whether you have had a previous procedure to improve the feature for which you are considering surgery. The aim of this evaluation is to determine if you have cosmetic surgery addiction and whether the reason for this is body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). BDD is a condition that can drive men and women to go under the knife repeatedly because they are perpetually dissatisfied with their appearance.
Don’t worry – BDD and cosmetic surgery addiction are not that common. People choose to improve their appearance for various reasons and most of them are acceptable and do not indicate an addiction. Here are some examples:
- To counteract the effects of aging: Older men and women request facelift surgery and skin treatments to slow down the ravages caused by aging, sun damage, hormonal changes, and so on.
- A sequence of typical procedures throughout life: According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, a woman may have some typical surgeries throughout her life such as a breast lift after childbirth, liposuction in her middle age, and a facelift when she gets older.
- Combination treatments to enhance the outcome: Some people have a combination of procedures to enhance the outcome. For instance, liposuction can be combined with Brazilian butt lift and a breast lift can be combined with breast augmentation.
- To maintain the results of a previous procedure: The most common example is breast implants which will need replacement at some point of life. The average life span of these implants is 10 to 15 years.
So what are the signs that a patient has body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and is addicted to cosmetic surgery? A person with BDD is usually obsessed about the slightest defect, which may be an imagined one, usually in a facial feature. Preoccupation with this “defect” would make them even neglect their daily activities and responsibilities. Such people could be displeased about several physical features, seek a variety of procedures to correct them, and then seek additional procedures because they are not happy about the results. Individuals addicted to cosmetic surgery usually have unrealistic expectations and believe that changing their physical features is the key to solving their problems and transforming their lives.
While it’s true that having plastic surgery to enhance your looks can improve your confidence and self-esteem, it is unrealistic to think that it will resolve all your pressures.
When it comes to cosmetic procedures, consulting the right plastic surgeon really matters. A qualified surgeon will evaluate patient goals and help them maintain realistic expectations. Patients would be advised to have a procedure only if they badly need it and if it would really benefit them. The surgeon would also help them choose the treatment that will enable them to meet their aesthetic goals.