Body dysmorphic disorder and addiction to medical aesthetic procedures

Abstract

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), or dysmorphophobia, is the preoccupation with an imagined defect in appearance that leads to significant distress and impairments to daily functioning. Due to their lack of insight, individuals with BDD believe that cosmetic procedures will be the solution to their insecurities, even though they rarely get satisfaction from them. Cosmetic procedures can then become an addiction, as patients never reach full satisfaction. In response to this issue, aesthetic practitioners need to identify those presenting with BDD by administering a questionnaire that asks how many cosmetic surgeries the individual has had previously, before continuing with any aesthetic procedure. Those who show signs of BDD can then be referred to mental health professionals for specialised treatments, such as medications, cognitive behavioural therapy, exposure and response prevention, and family support.