Facebook Pixel

Rhinoplasty and BDD

 
Rate This

You may have heard the story late last month: ABC’s Good Morning America reported that a full third of rhinoplasty patients show signs of BDD, or body dysmorphic disorder (Conley 1). Unbelievable as that number sounds, the news is based on a study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Plastic surgeons are one group of professionals who know quite a lot about rhinoplasty and body dysmorphic disorder.

The study, reports Good Morning America, surveyed 250 rhinoplasty patients from Belgium. The authors found that 33 percent of the group exhibited signs of moderate to severe BDD. The researchers noted that BDD seems to be quite prevalent among patients seeking nose jobs, and because the symptoms of BDD include extreme self-consciousness and avoidance of social activities, they also concluded that the level of these patients’ BDD had a marked impact on their daily lives (Conley 1).

The amazing thing about this news is not really the nose job factor. One of the plastic surgeons quoted in the Good Morning America article noted that when you look in the mirror, the nose is the first thing you see. He believes that for some who are unhappy with various areas of their lives, the nose might easily become a target of blame (Conley 1).

So while it makes a certain amount of sense that rhinoplasty might be a common procedure desired by those with BDD, it’s remarkable that the number is so high. In 2005, the American Psychological Association reported that 7 to 12 percent of plastic surgery patients showed some signs of BDD (Dittmann 1). Two years later, an article in the online journal Psychiatry mentioned a variety of studies in the United States and Europe indicated BDD rates for plastic surgery patients ranging from 6.3 percent to 15 percent (Sansome 1).

So, what does that surprising 33 percent figure for rhinoplasty patients tell us? It could be that the rate of BDD for patients seeking cosmetic surgery has risen lately, or is higher than it has been believed to be, but there’s not enough information to make that leap. Looking back at the broader studies, this new one suggests that those seeking rhinoplasty are perhaps more likely to have BDD than people who seek other procedures. This is at least a very interesting finding, and it should give food for thought to those who are interested in cosmetic surgery, especially if they find fault with their nose.

It’s likely that few people considering a nose job think they have BDD. But if you or someone you know is talking rhinoplasty, it could be a good idea to think extra hard about that possibility.

References:

Conley, Michaela. 33 Percent of Nose Job Patients Have Body Dysmorphic Symptoms. July 27, 2011. Web. August 6, 2011.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/33-percent-nose-job-patients-obsessed-physical-defects/story?id=14162544

Dittmann, Melissa. Plastic Surgery: Beauty or Beast? American Psychological Association. September 2005. Web. August 11, 2011. http://www.apa.org/monitor/sep05/surgery.aspx

Sansome, Randy A. and Laurie A. Cosmetic Surgery and Psychological Issues. Psychiatry. December 2007. Web. August 11, 2011.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2861519/

Reviewed August 12, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg R.N.
Edited by Jody Smith

Add a Comment2 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

bdd is not a side effect of surgery,its drives surgery in those that have it.The reason its common in rhino patients is that nosejobs are more common than other facial ops by far and that the age of people getting them is far younger than say age related ops like facelifts.Also the face is the most common rea of BDD concern.If you mention BDD in a rhino consult ,prepare to be refused since most surgeons wont consider BDD patients because they are a nightmare to manage post op,there are at least 2 murders of docs by patients in the literature,both BDD patients.

November 7, 2012 - 5:57am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

WOW! I actually haven't heard about BBD! I have a consultation this week with a rhinoplasty surgeon in New York. I will definitely bring BBD up in our discussion. Things like this always amaze me. Rhinoplasties have been around for so long and the real side effects are just now showing up. Truly shocking!

August 29, 2011 - 12:23pm
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy
Add a Comment

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

Tags:

Beauty

Get Email Updates

Beauty Guide

Have a question? We're here to help. Ask the Community.

ASK

Health Newsletter

Receive the latest and greatest in women's health and wellness from EmpowHER - for free!