New study suggests patients seeking plastic sugery may need mental health treatment instead

A new study set to be published in the August issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery suggests some patients who seek plastic surgery may need mental health treatment instead.

According to the study, 33 percent of people seeking rhinoplasty, a nose or other forms of plastic surgery may have a mental health condition known as Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).

Psychologist Canice Crerand of the Philadelphia Children’s Hospital studies the connection between BDD and plastic surgery and tells NewsWorks’ Maiken Scott that often times the nose is a common preoccupation for people with the disorder.

“Individuals with BDD tend to seek out cosmetic surgery as a means of addressing their appearance-related concerns, as opposed to the more appropriate psychiatric and psychological treatments.”

Cherry Hill plastic surgeon Steven Davis tells NewsWorks he carefully screens his patients to understand their motivations and reasoning.  Davis says his colleagues are generally becoming more aware of the issue.