Dysmorphophobia: When Should the Plastic Surgeon Say No?

Abstract

Dysmorphophobia is the phobia that arises from the distorted view that one has of one's external appearance, caused by the excessive concern for one's body image, in most cases not justified. The role of the plastic surgeon is to recognize the dysmorphophobic patient, make him aware of the non-existence of the defect and direct him towards a path that can help him. The body is a living organism that has its own characteristics and with its own uniqueness. Performing a cosmetic surgery means improving an imperfection by enhancing the positive traits of each patient. For this reason, the ultimate goal of surgery is to seek a positive aesthetic improvement and never a transformation. A dysmorphophobic patient is a dissatisfied person who is constantly looking for a mutation by entering a loop from which he will not be able to get out easily. When the patient suffers from dysmorphophobia, he generally complains of a blemish that cannot be objectified and must be an alarm bell for the specialist who is visiting him. The visit serves to analyze the patient as a whole. Relying on a specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery means that you are faced with a professional trained in this branch of medicine, who can guide the patient towards the most suitable path and with the safest and most predictable results, or is a capable professional. To recognize a psychological weakness of the patient, blocking from the beginning a process that would not be indicated.