Challenges Facing Plastic Surgeons in Dealing with Patients Who Suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Reviewing the Forensic Medicine Commission Files in Tehran, Iran

Rahmati, Javad; Emami Nodeh, Aliasghar; Abianeh, Shahriar Haddady; Saberi, Seyed Mehdi; Molaei, Hojjat

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Challenges Facing Plastic Surgeons in Dealing with Patients Who Suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Reviewing the Forensic Medicine Commission Files in Tehran, Iran

Javad Rahmati¹

, Aliasghar Emami Nodeh²

, Shahriar Haddady Abianeh¹

, Seyed Mehdi Saberi³

, Hojjat Molaei ^*⁴

1- 1. Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Medicine School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2- 2. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran
3- 3. Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran
4- 1. Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Medicine School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , hmggprs@gmail.com

Abstract: (17 Views)

ABSTRACT
Background: Psychological disorders can create social challenges. Body dysmorphic disorder is a psychological issue that can lead to interpersonal conflicts. Plastic surgeons face this challenge in some patients referred for cosmetic surgery.
Methods: This study was conducted among 210 individuals who had officially filed a complaint regarding the results of cosmetic surgery with the Forensic Medicine Commission of Tehran, Iran from Mar 2023 to March 2024. They all underwent psychological diagnostic tests for body dysmorphic disorder. The gathered data included age, sex, occupation, educational status, surgery type, forensic medical commission petition result, and psychological assessment of the nasal deformity.
Results: Most medical forensic plaintiffs were women undergone breast, abdomen, or nose surgeries and were not satisfied with the results. 30.5% of those undergone cosmetic surgery and filed complaints had body dysmorphic disorder; most of them had undergone facial and nose cosmetic surgery. Interestingly, most of those with this psychological disorder had achieved a positive vote from the commission (surgeon convicted) compared to those who were not diagnosed with this disorder.
Conclusion: Plastic surgeons do a screening for psychological issues such as body dysmorphic disorder before performing cosmetic surgeries. It would be best to avoid either performing cosmetic surgery for them or, at least, not choose the more invasive procedures first.

Keywords: Body dysmorphic disorder, Plastic and cosmetic surgery, Forensic medicine, Surgery complications, Iran

Full-Text [PDF 204 kb] (9 Downloads)

Type of Study: Review Article | Subject: Special