Seattle Plastic Surgeon explains why plastic surgery should be avoided in those who suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
Plastic Surgery will not relieve the suffering of Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
I saw a young man recently who suffers from Body Dysmor-phic Disorder (BDD). Those who suffer from BDD become obsessed with a minor or imaginary physical flaw. They may withdraw from society because of their perceived defect and spend hours a day checking the perceived defect. And they may very well end up in a plastic surgeons office.
Plastic surgery may remove the tiny flaw but it does not help the patient with BDD. If the defect is a mole that I can barely see without my magnifying glasses and I remove it successfully, the BDD patient will then obsess over the tiny scar or another tiny flaw. Plastic surgery cannot cure BDD because BDD is a mental illness, not a physical condition.
It is very important for plastic surgeons to be aware and on the look out for patients with Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Operating on one of these unfortunate patients will undoubtedly set up a cycle of dissatisfaction and disappointment for both the patient and the surgeon. These patients need a referral to a mental health specialist.
Read more about Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
Thanks for reading! Dr. Lisa Lynn Sowder
@lisalynnsowder
