PLASTIC SURGERY AND MENTAL HEALTH: CARE FOR PATIENTS POSSIBLE BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER

Abstract

The area of ​​aesthetic medicine is one of the fastest growing, especially in Brazil, the world's champion in plastic surgery. However, although cosmetic surgeries play a role in increasing patients' self-esteem, happiness and quality of life, they can also be linked to a series of psychological and social demands. One of these problems is body dysmorphic disorder, which makes people not see themselves as they really are, always wanting to change something in their bodies. Thus, this study seeks to answer the following research problem: “what is the role of plastic surgeons in patients who appear to manifest body dysmorphic disorder?”. This question is linked to the following general objective: to understand body dysmorphic disorder and its relationship with plastic surgery, identifying possibilities and limits in fulfilling these patients' aesthetic desires. To answer these questions, a systematic literature review methodology was used, carried out on the PubMed and Scielo platforms, prioritizing works from the last 10 years, in Portuguese and English, in the area of ​​medicine and psychology. As a result, it was found that, in fact, most patients who seek plastic surgery present signs, or even an effective diagnosis of body dysmorphic disorder. As a conclusion, there is a need for plastic surgeons to study more about these and other psychological diseases, as well as for medical courses to also begin to address these issues better.