Importancia de la detección del trastorno dismórfico corporal en la consulta de Cirugía Estética

Abstract

Along with the boom in Cosmetic Surgery, interest has increased in understanding the patients' motivations for attending an Aesthetic Surgery consultation. Patients suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) perceive imaginary body defects, producing discomfort. Controversy has risen among experts about the possible negative outcomes that Aesthetic Surgery could have in them. Our objective is to conduct a systematic review of the published literature about BDD and Aesthetic Surgery, considering prevalence, comorbidities and consequences of surgical procedures in their mental health. We designed a MEDLINE search strategy using appropriate MeSH terms: "Body Dysmorphic Disorders" and "Surgery, Plastic". The most widely used definition is the DSM-IV TR. BDD prevalence is significantly higher among Aesthetic Surgery patients (6-15%) than in the general population (2.4%). Most common comorbidities are: depressive disorders, anxiety and impulse control disorders. These patients usually present intrusive egodistonic thoughts and overvalued body image ideas, associated with poor insight, which leads to higher incidence of suicide attempts. Studies have shown low postoperative satisfaction among them. We believe that early BDD detection is critical for aesthetic surgeons, in order to properly refer and treat these patients. There is scarce research about the subject in our region, which is necessary to compare the phenomenon in our setting with the published literature abroad.