Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Teens
Increasing numbers of teens are having elective cosmetic surgeries to address body image issues, without fully considering the physical and psychological risks involved. Part two of our three-part series on Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).
Our last post focused on Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), body image issues, and cosmetic surgery in the entertainment industry. While I can appreciate that movie stars and models to some extent depend on their appearance for their livelihoods, I worry about the message that stars’ cosmetic surgeries send to the public, particularly young women who see these stars as role models. One recent news story focused on the increasing numbers of teens seeking cosmetic surgeries. The article noted three problematic issues specifically related to this growing trend of teens looking to surgically enhance their bodies:
- Teens’ bodies are still changing and growing, so having surgeries before their bodies have fully grown is ill-advised;
- Teens seeking cosmetic surgeries may be suffering from depression and would be better advised to address their feelings about themselves in a non-surgical manner
- Teens often don’t understand the significant risks involved in having any surgery, including the risk of disfigurement and death.
On this last note, readers should be reminded that people can and do die as a result of complications from what are considered “routine” cosmetic surgeries. Many will remember the publicity generated by the November 2007 death of Kanye West’s mother from complications related to having a tummy tuck and breast augmentation. In fact, many people die each year following cosmetic procedures. One recent study found the mortality rate for those undergoing liposuction was approximately one death for every 5000 patients, while approximately one out of every 350 patients undergoing this supposedly “routine” procedure experienced “significant complications”.
