Cosmetic Surgery Addiction
Cosmetic surgery addiction is an infantile form of psychological disorder that has been brought about by two factors: the existence of cosmetic surgery that has put forth the possibility of physical enhancement and the severe feeling that something is wrong with one’s current physical appearance or with a previous surgical job. The main source of this addiction is frustration, which emanates from the perception of imperfections. In some cases though, people are addicted to because of the pleasure they derive from being placed under the knife. Gastric bypass and alcoholism is a good example one of the side effects of cosmetic surgery.
Warning Signs Of Cosmetic Surgery Addiction
Early signs of cosmetic surgery addiction are unrealistic expectations about cosmetic surgery and the refusal of the person to hear out the advices of the surgeon. More serious symptoms of this addiction are manifested by the following:
- Numerous cosmetic surgeries. Some of them on the same part of the body and some in different body parts.
- Obsessive compulsive behavior over small defects that are not noticed by others
- Obsession over a body part or that of a person who is not in any way personally known like celebrities and models
- Preoccupation with the recent, high-end, or cutting-edge method, technology, or procedure in cosmetic surgery
- Overspending on cosmetic surgery where other personal needs are sacrificed
- Spending so much time in consulting with various doctors or surgeons
It must be noted that people who feel the great need to fix their physical appearance could have greater personal problems in their lives. It is very impossible for cosmetic surgery addiction patients to be even aware that they are afflicted by this problem without strong persuasion from doctors, family, and friends.
Cosmetic Surgery Addiction Treatment For Addicts
Anybody who has cosmetic surgery addiction should undergo therapy. The available therapies right now that are advised or practiced by experts are:
- Cognitive behavior therapy is focused on improving the brain functions in order to improve the self-worth, esteem, and confidence of the client
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which is a drug that improves the level of serotonin in the human brain.
Recognition of the cosmetic surgery addiction must be reached by the patient or else no amount of therapy would be useful. Family and friends would play a great role in the recovery of the addict. His insecurity could be rooted to certain unanswered or unaddressed issues in the family. The help of a psychologist should be recruited to facilitate the rehabilitation process which could be painful not only to the patient but even to his families.
Undergoing first plastic surgery operations would normally take a lot of courage and many sleepless nights before actually deciding to go under the knife. But once the first surgical operation was already done, second, third, fourth, and even more is easy to follow, thus the term plastic surgery addiction. Plastic surgery addiction happens when a person has undergone various and numerous plastic surgery operations would still want to have more.
How Does One Become an Addict?
Research says that most people who have undergone plastic surgery operations are those who have already experienced how it is to be on the operating table. It is normal to feel unsatisfied with your nose or body parts once in a while. But undergoing continuous cosmetic surgery operations just for the purpose of appearing beautiful is an addiction. Some reasons why others are hook in plastic surgery addiction are as follows:
- Having very low self-esteem
- Extreme peer pressure
- Lacking self-confidence
- Behavioral disorder such as body dismorphic disorder
How Can You Detect an Addict?
The following are some manifestations that one is into plastic surgery addiction:
- Undergoing numerous plastic surgery operations. These operations may be done on the same part of the body previously operated or it may be on some other parts.
- Sensitive to the minute detail of deformity or defect even if other people can hardly notice these defects.
- Unusual attractions to body parts of a popular TV or movie personality.
- No self-satisfaction. Surgeons would usually find a hard time to please patient that is a plastic surgery addiction.Â
- Apparent and blatant refusal to the surgeon’s advice to stop the addiction.
Who Are the Common Victims?
Popular TV or movie personalities are the most common victim of plastic surgery addiction. The cosmetic operation would usually start on the need to look good in public and maintaining the same. But eventually after one operation, the second one will follow, and the third, and the fourth, until they cannot resist the urge to cut again. Some celebrities confess their addiction to plastic surgery while others still deny going under the knife.
How Can You Treat the Addiction?
The best way to stop plastic surgery addiction is to undergo counseling. The usual or common reason why one becomes an addict to plastic surgery is because a person is not contented of how he looks. Usually an addict would display a very low self-confidence and a disturbed behavior. Hence, a series of therapy sessions or counseling is strongly recommended.