Cosmetic Surgery Addiction

Cosmetic surgery addiction is a relatively new addiction for the medical profession but one that has risen to the forefront over the years as the procedures have become less costly, accepted among social circles, and more popular. Patients who suffer from plastic surgery addiction will continuously change their physical appearance via cosmetic procedures such as a nose job, tummy tuck, liposuction, breast implants, or a face lift. Many times the patient will have work done on the same feature repeatedly..

When most people think of what looks to be cosmetic surgery addiction, images of specific celebrities come to mind. You may think of Michael Jackson, or Joan Rivers, or "Barbie" Cindy Jackson, or Jocelyn “Cat Woman” Wildenstein.

The fact is that two thirds of the cosmetic surgery patients go back to have additional procedures done, often on the same body part. Once the patient has become comfortable with the process and/or surgeon they are more apt to retun ni their attempt to attain the "perfect" look.

Cosmetic surgery addiction often stems from a condition called body dysmorphic disorder which causes a person to consider themselves hideous no matter how attractive they really are. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterized by an excessive preoccupation with a real or imagined defect in your physical appearance. Those with this disorder feel that if they are not happy then they must not be beautiful and in order to be happy they must become beautiful. When a patient with this condition turns to surgical procedures they have to go back for more because the change in their physical appearance does not bring the desired effect on their happiness.

These plastic surgery addictions are usually easy to detect for medical professionals, friends, and family. Patients who have had countless cosmetic procedrues, either on the same or different body parts, are typical addicts. Doctors can usually identify the “troubled” patients during the initial consultation which may prompt them to advise psychological counseling before proceeding with the surgery.

How Is Cosmetic Surgery Addiction Treated?

This form of addiction is a problem that can be remedied with a number of treatment options. Counseling sessions are an option for addicts as they can benefit from talk therapy since their problem is both behavioral and perceptual. Some doctors may advise the patients use prescriptions to treat their addiction or to complement their counseling, and alleviate the underlying anxiety. For some cases of surgery addiction and BDD the doctor may need to suggest the patient seek rehabilitation in a residential care facility where they can be monitored and undergo therapy by the inhouse medical staff.

Cosmetic Surgery Addiction

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