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Can Plastic Surgery Become Addictive?

Thomas Loeb | December 18, 2012 | Posted in Body

Those looking for plastic surgery in New York City typically have a single body part they would like to improve. While surgical procedures can be highly effective for these individuals, there is another category of plastic surgery patients that may not enjoy the same satisfying results.

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An addiction to cosmetic procedures is a very real condition for a small number of patients. It generally stems from a condition known as body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD. Patients with this condition may undergo multiple cosmetic procedures with the hope of obtaining that “perfect” appearance – which, of course, never happens.

Body dysmorphic disorder

BDD can be defined as an obsession with a real or imagined defect in one’s appearance, often somewhere on the face. In many cases, the flaw may be invisible to others, or may not even exist at all. The individual may spend excessive amounts of time grooming in an effort to hide the perceived defect from public view. In some cases, sufferers of BDD might avoid social situations due to their self-consciousness.

When someone with BDD requests a consult for plastic surgery in New York City, it is likely that individual has unrealistic expectations for what the procedure can achieve. The person may even be linking the surgery to a more satisfying relationship or a job promotion. A patient with BDD may suffer from extremely low self-esteem, which could be evident to the plastic surgeon at the first appointment. BDD sufferers often refuse to pose for photographs and may spend an extraordinary amount of time examining their appearance in mirrors – or avoiding mirrors altogether.

Manhattan plastic surgeon

When a plastic surgeon recognizes the symptoms of BDD in a patient that comes in for a consultation, that doctor may spend some additional time counseling the patient on the reasons for having plastic surgery and the results one might expect. In some cases, the doctor may advise against a procedure such as liposuction. Doctors that do perform plastic surgery on BDD patients may find the patient is not satisfied with the results. Some patients may actually like the results, but then find another feature they want “fixed.” These patients may begin a cycle of plastic surgery procedures, which can prove costly and risky, without offering the results hoped for by the patients themselves.

Dr. Thomas Loeb is a Manhattan plastic surgeon that strives to produce beautiful, natural results with every procedure he performs. Subtlety is the key to success for any plastic surgery, and Dr. Loeb knows that by not overdoing cosmetic procedures, he can provide his patients with the best possible results.

Plastic surgery in New York City

Dr. Loeb performs a wide range of non-invasive and surgical procedures in his private surgical suite in the heart of Manhattan. If you’d like to learn more about how plastic surgery and body contouring can help you address a cosmetic issue, contact Dr. Loeb’s Fifth Avenue office today to schedule a consultation.

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    PLASTIC SURGERY VISUALIZER

    Manhattan

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    Schedule Your Consultation

      Latest Aesthetic News

      PLASTIC SURGERY VISUALIZER

      Manhattan

      994 Fifth Avenue
      New York, NY 10028
      212-327-3700
      Click for directions

      Great Neck

      1000 Northern Blvd, Suite 340
      Great Neck, NY 11021
      516-487-3134
      Click for directions