Plastic Surgery Addiction: When to Stop?

 

A fixation with altering the way you look through surgery is a behavioral disorder known as plastic surgery addiction. People who are addicted to plastic surgery invest a great deal of time and money in a variety of procedures, some of which may be risky. An addiction can cause lasting bodily damage, financial burden, and declining mental health.

Although the majority of people who opt for plastic surgeries are women. There is an increase in interest among men as well. Here, we’re not talking about one or two corrective plastic surgeries people decided to do to feel better about their appearance. Being addicted to plastic surgery comes with a set of risks that can have a significant impact on your life. 

 

What Is Plastic Surgery Addiction?

A person may develop an addiction to plastic surgery if they have had several cosmetic operations done and are never happy or content with the way they look. You might spend a lot of time, money, and resources on operations if you have an addiction to plastic surgery. Additionally, since you are never satisfied with the outcome, it can make you return for more.

The signs of plastic surgery addiction are similar to those of behavioral addictions. However, they cannot be diagnosed. Despite the risks, those who are addicted to plastic surgery keep getting cosmetic operations, and they ignore advice from their family and friends. In other words, your family might encourage you to stop plastic surgeries. Yet their opinion doesn’t make you change your mind.

That is why plastic surgery addiction is often connected with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).

A person with body dysmorphic disorder, also known as body dysmorphia, spends a lot of time thinking about their looks. Although body dysmorphia can affect people of any age, young adults are the most likely to experience it. 

Over time, a person with this mindset often becomes obsessed with plastic surgery. Which has an impact on many aspects of their lives. They are often focused on finding the money, scheduling, recuperating, and exploring new things that can make them look better. These procedures precede other responsibilities, relationships, and necessities in their lives, which makes it even dangerous. 

 

Signs of Plastic Surgery Addiction

Family members, friends, and romantic partners could be able to identify a plastic surgery addict. In other cases, the symptoms could be more subtle and harmful. More obvious signs of obsessive cosmetic surgery include persistent physical alterations or an excessive amount of time spent recuperating from the procedure. Looking for doctors, treatments, customer testimonials, and photos of before and after are the most common signs of plastic surgery addiction. Especially if the person is doing that right after recovering from surgery. 

The following are some typical signs of a plastic surgery addiction:

• Interest in numerous procedures 
• Choosing a physician without being interested in their training or qualifications
• Experiencing irrational expectations regarding post-operative sensations
• Believing in the potential rewards of an operation, such as social acceptance, love, happiness, and financial prosperity
• Ignoring responsibilities at work, school, or home
• Having financial issues as a result of the surgeries
• Having relationship problems because of your prioritization of your body
• Searching for alternative medical professionals in case one is unwilling to do the process
• Feeling that some of your physical parts require fixing

Treatment Options for Plastic Surgery Addiction 

Those who are addicted to plastic surgery might have a difficult time accepting that they have an addiction. This is mostly because they are very much focused on improving their image of themselves, although this image is often unrealistic. 

When a person admits they are addicted to plastic surgery, the best thing to do is to find a therapist to help them understand better why this addiction developed in the first place. There is so much more behind the need to look and feel better. A therapist can help people with this addiction to accept themselves as they are and stop chasing the unattainable. 

 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Surgery addiction disorder patients who receive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can identify how their ideas, feelings, and behaviors interact to influence their behavior. CBT entails recognizing and combating skewed mental processes that might be a factor in compulsive behaviors related to plastic surgeries. One can be more prepared to meet the temptation of having another operation when these harmful thought patterns are swapped out for more optimistic and practical ones, which will eventually improve one’s quality of life.

 

12-Step Programs

A mental health expert could also advise enrolling in a 12-step program to create a network of support for rehabilitation. For those battling addiction of any sort, 12-step support groups offer a secure setting where people may talk about their challenges and encourage one another to gain and keep control over bad behaviors.

 

Medications

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not authorized any particular drugs to treat addiction to plastic surgery. Nonetheless, antidepressants may be able to lessen the symptoms of worry and compulsive behaviors in some situations where mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphic disorder, are present. 

 

Plastic Surgery and Mental Health 

Plastic surgery has a variety of effects on mental health, many of which are unintended. Although the main goal of plastic surgery is to help patients restore their self-esteem. Several studies have shown that this isn’t always the case. If you or someone close to you has done several procedures and is still thinking about doing more. It would be wise to seek a mental health expert. 

Talking to someone about your insecurities or the motivations for pursuing plastic surgeries can help you find peace and accept yourself just the way you are. A therapist could also help you understand what caused these insecurities in the first place and how to ensure they no longer control your life. For instance, if one of your parents was really critical of your looks, you might feel like you’re never going to reach that perfection, which would lead to them accepting you. A therapist would help you understand that you no longer need their acceptance. Loving yourself is the path to happiness, not plastic surgery. 

 

 

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