By Plastic Surgeon Dr Dirk Kremer. 

As a leading London-based cosmetic surgeon, I see hundreds of patients every year who want plastic surgery for a variety of reasons. Some patients come to me looking for plastic surgery procedures that help fix medical conditions such as protruding ears or large breasts that are causing them pain. Other patients are after a confidence boost and come to me looking for biggest breasts, smaller noses, smaller stomachs etc. Unfortunately, I see some patients who want plastic surgery procedures for worrying reasons.

One of the more worrying reasons patients come to see plastic surgeons such as myself is because they’re suffering from a mental illness called body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), and are either too embarrassed to seek out appropriate support or don’t realise they are suffering from this condition, and so turn to aesthetic surgery.

Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental illness where people are constantly worried about their appearance. They constantly feel like something about their appearance is wrong, and often believe something that no-one else ever notices. The condition, which affects men and women equally, is found in around 1 in 50 people in the UK today, and has rapidly become a serious medical condition as plastic surgery has become more accessible, affordable and popular. BDD can cause serious emotional stress, causing many sufferers to shy away from social interactions, which can lead to job losses, family turmoil and other mental health conditions such as depression. In the most serious cases, BDD can lead to suicide, with recent estimates suggesting suicide rates for BDD suffers are around 25%.

Why do BDD sufferers seek plastic surgery?

Many BDD sufferers don’t ask for help in fear that asking will make them look weak or vain, whereas this couldn’t be further from the truth. As a result, many people turn to plastic surgery to fix whatever they feel is wrong. However, because BDD is a mental condition, plastic surgery never fixes the problem because there will always be some aspect of a sufferer’s appearance that they believe can be improved. According to a 2003 study, almost 20% of all patients seeking rhinoplasties were found to be suffering from BDD, but BDD sufferers also seek breast enlargement or reduction surgeries, face lifts, eye lifts and tummy tucks/liposuction procedures.

More needs to be done by plastic surgeons

Before performing any cosmetic surgery, I always undertake an initial consultation so I can get to know the patient and better understand why they want cosmetic surgery. If I suspect a patient is suffering from BDD disorder or any other condition which is influencing their decision, I always advise them that plastic surgery isn’t the answer. Unfortunately, despite better regulations coming into force in the UK, too many cosmetic surgeons don’t take the mental health of their patients into consideration and perform surgery anyway. This is very unsafe as many BDD sufferers keep returning for more cosmetic surgery, which could put their health at risk.

BDD sufferers should not be permanently refused cosmetic surgery, but a plastic surgeon has an ethical duty to ensure their patient is making the decision for the best reasons, and should always provide patients with alternative treatments if they feel BDD is affecting their judgement.

Here at Harley Street Aesthetics, I always perform an in-depth consultation with a patient so that I can be sure that the patient isn’t thinking about having surgery for unsuitable reasons. If you’re interested in any of the cosmetic procedures I offer, please get in touch to book a consultation today on 0845 519 7232 or email info@harleystreetaesthetics.com.