Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a somatoform disorder characterised by a distressing obsession with an imagined or slight
appearance defect, which can significantly impair normal day-to-day functioning. Patients with BDD often first present, and are
hence diagnosed, in cosmetic surgery settings. Several studies have investigated the prevalence rate of BDD in the general
population or have done so for patients referring to cosmetic medical centers. To date, however, no review has been undertaken to
compare the prevalence in the general community versus in a cosmetic surgery setting. Despite the lack of such a review it is a
commonly held belief that BDD is more common in patients seeking cosmetic surgery. The current study aims to review the available
literature in order to investigate whether BDD is indeed more prevalent in patients requesting cosmetic surgery, and if that is the
case, to provide possible reasons for the difference in prevalence. In addition this review provides evidence on the effectiveness of
cosmetic surgery as a treatment of BDD
