Psychiatric Aspects of Cosmetic Nasal Operations

Patients not uncommonly attend psychiatric clinics with the primary complaint of a cos metic defect in their appearance, e.g. that their nose is big or somehow conspicuous, or that their chin is protuberant or receding. Of the various features concerned, complaints about the nose are by far the most frequent. Such patients also consult plastic surgeons requesting the operation of cosmetic rhinoplasty and it is not unusual for the surgeon to seek a psychiatric opinion about some of the cases he sees, as it has been thought that the motivation of such requests is sometimes complex and the desire for operation may be indicative of psychological disturbance. The surgeons would appear to refer those cases where the defect is minimal or, of course, where severe psychological disturbance is obvious even quite superficially.