Gynecomastia and Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a condition which is frequently on the minds of many plastic surgeons. In the U.S. it affects 2% of all men and 1% of all women. According to the Mayo Clinic, Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a chronic illness in which a patient fixates on a particular real or imagined physical flaw. In relation, to gynecomastia, each surgeon who performs this surgery has to consider the possibility of whether a prospective patient has a realistic body image in comparison with the average population. For a condition like gynecomastia, which is characterized by enlarged male breasts, it is possible for a man to fixate on the flaws in this particular area of the body. With the connotations related to how men with enlarged breasts perceive themselves on the gender spectrum, it is understandable that some men might fixate on this. According to Dr. Blau, who is a specialist in gynecomastia, he finds that he is especially wary of this when working with the body-building community. As bodybuilders need to be conscious of their physique on a consistent basis in order to remain competitive. To minimize the likelihood of operating on someone with Body Dysmorphic Disorder, plastic surgeons evaluate their patients psychologically in order to ensure that the surgery is really in the best interest of their patient.
Handling a gynecomastia patient with Body Dysmorphic Disorder is always a tricky situation for any physician. It takes a skillful physician, who has a lot of experience working with patients to learn how to communicate realistic expectations to patients. However, even after spending a great deal of time discussing what outcomes a patient can realistically expect, sometimes, patients whose results objectively look good to other still look like they are in great need of fixing from the perspective of the patient. At this juncture, the physician should discuss with the patient, the possibility of benefitting from counseling for Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder needs to be taken seriously. Those with BDD can also experience unfortunate symptoms like depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. Fortunately, BDD can be managed through medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. If you think you may be suffering from BDD, please consult your healthcare professional.
About the author
Dr. Mordcai Blau is specialist in gynecomastia surgery and performs almost 300 gynecomastia surgeries each year. He has been published by the American Society for Plastic Surgeons as a gynecomastia surgeon. He has also been featured on The Learning Channel (TLC) as a male breast reduction surgeon. He is a surgeon's surgeon and has operated on and is highly recommended by other physicians-including plastic surgeons. Dr. Mordcai Blau is passionate about sharing his knowledge of expertise of gynecomastia and male breast reduciton surgery.
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