When people think of addiction, they often focus on substances like alcohol, drugs, or tobacco. However, addiction can also take the form of behaviors that affect both the body and mind. While substance addiction is widely recognized, behavioral addictions, such as those linked to cosmetic surgery, can also significantly impact individuals and their loved ones.
What Causes Cosmetic Surgery Addiction?
Cosmetic surgery addiction is a behavioral disorder where someone feels an ongoing need to change their appearance through various plastic surgery procedures. Like many addictions, it might start as something that seems harmless. For instance, a single cosmetic procedure could initially improve someone’s self-esteem, helping them feel better about their appearance. However, after experiencing these perceived benefits, some individuals begin focusing on other things they want to change. This can lead to scheduling more procedures immediately or fixating on flaws over time.
It’s normal for people to dislike certain aspects of their appearance, whether it’s something small like a slightly crooked tooth or more noticeable features like a prominent ear or uneven breasts. But when someone becomes obsessed with finding faults in their appearance and constantly seeks aesthetic changes, it can indicate both an addiction to cosmetic surgery and an underlying mental health condition like Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).
What Is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)?
BDD, or body dysmorphia, involves an overwhelming concern with perceived flaws in one’s appearance. Often, these so-called imperfections are invisible to others. BDD doesn’t stem from vanity or self-obsession; rather, it’s a psychological condition that can feel truly debilitating, affecting all areas of life.
Though it can affect anyone, BDD is more common in teens and young adults. People with BDD often believe that cosmetic surgery will fix their psychological distress, but this is rarely the case. Those who are overly self-critical about their appearance are often disappointed with surgical results because the changes they hope for are either unrealistic or fail to address their deeper emotional issues.
The Role of Social Influences
Social factors play a considerable role in cosmetic surgery addiction. In today’s hyper-connected world, many people—especially young and impressionable individuals—are bombarded with unrealistic beauty standards through media like movies, social platforms, and advertisements. These distorted images of beauty not only skew our perceptions but can also contribute to mental health challenges like BDD. When therapy is not sought, these social pressures can push individuals down a path toward cosmetic surgery addiction.
The Dangers of Cosmetic Surgery Addiction
Like any addiction, being addicted to cosmetic procedures can have serious consequences for both your mental and physical health. Individuals risk developing chronic depression, which can strain relationships and affect professional lives. They may also struggle with feelings of frustration or anger toward loved ones who try to intervene and provide support.
The physical risks are perhaps the most alarming. Repeated surgeries can lead to permanent skin and muscle damage, excessive scarring, and compressed muscles due to over-manipulation of the body. These long-term effects can leave individuals feeling even more distressed than they were before seeking surgery.
How to Get Help
Cosmetic surgery should never control someone’s life. If you or someone you care about is struggling with an addiction to cosmetic procedures, the first step is reaching out to a healthcare professional or your general practitioner (GP) to explore the best resources and support available.
