Considerations in Male Aging Face Consultation: Psychologic Aspects

Historically, the male cosmetic surgery patient has been viewed as being highly psychopathologic. Recent studies have refuted this longheld belief. However, when conducting a male aging face consultation, it is important for cosmetic surgeons to perform a focused psychiatric assessment to screen for mentally-ill patients, who may not be good surgical candidates. Included in the spectrum of psychiatric diseases that should be recognized is body dysmorphic disorder, an illness characterized by distortions in body perception, which has a higher prevalence in the cosmetic surgery population. By taking a focused psychiatric history, the cosmetic surgeon can identify patients who have untreated psychiatric pathology and are not psychologically appropriate for surgery. These patients would instead benefit from consultation with a mental health professional.