BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER AND AESTHETIC SURGERY - CASE-REPORT

The appearance of psychiatric disorders among plastic surgery patients is well-known, and its frequency is higher than in other surgical bra nches. There is evidence that these patients may suffer from body dysm orphic disorder (BDD), a mental disorder characterized by excessive co ncern about some imaginary or slight physical defect, causing signific ant clinical discomfort, social deterioration, and losses in other imp ortant areas of the individuals' activity. We present a typical case o f BDD and discuss diagnostic criteria and the proper attitude the plas tic surgeon should adopt toward this kind of patient.