Invited Response on: Body Dysmorphic Disorder: There is an "Ideal" Strategy?

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) has been considered the most relevant neuropsychiatric condition to cosmetic treatments. Patients’ ideal expectations often exceed what is expected to be achieved in reality by plastic surgery, signaling the presence of BDD. It is fundamental to detect BDD symptoms during screening for cosmetic surgery. A secondary concern with physical appearance may be one of the most important parameters to be detected during patient assessment, as it may interfere with overall patient satisfaction following treatment. A good doctor–patient relationship is essential for detecting this psychopathology. Mild-to-moderate BDD is not an exclusion criterion for cosmetic surgery, but specific treatment planning and a multidisciplinary approach are required. Recent studies have presented preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of cosmetic procedures in reducing BDD symptoms and providing patient satisfaction with treatment results. The use of validated instruments at pre- and postoperative assessments to systematically evaluate the patient’s level of distress with the physical appearance and patient satisfaction with treatment results will provide important information for the development of more sensitive validated tools for detection of severe levels of BDD symptoms to help plastic surgeons in the selection of patients in a more effective and practical manner.

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