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Textbook of Aging Skin pp 1–19Cite as

Aging Skin: Some Psychosomatic Aspects

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Abstract

A request for cosmetic procedures for aging skin is typically emotionally or psychosocially motivated as such procedures are usually life enhancing versus life saving. The primary responsibility of the clinician is to ensure that (i) he or she can accomplish what the patient desires and that (ii) the patient is satisfied with treatment outcome. Both of these points can be significantly influenced by psychosomatic factors. Overall trends indicate an increasing number of younger individuals in the 13–29 years age group, and mainly women are seeking cosmetic treatments for facial rejuvenation, especially the minimally invasive procedures. This has important implications as two-thirds of patients with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which is considered a contraindication for cosmetic procedures, experience symptoms prior age 18 years. In addition to BDD, younger age, male gender, minimal deformities, unrealistic expectations, and narcissistic and obsessional personality traits are some of the major negative predictors for patient satisfaction with outcome of cosmetic procedures. A slim and well-toned body is typically a feature of a youthful appearance, and in some individuals fear of aging can culminate in excessive drive for thinness and an eating disorder. Several studies suggest that patients seeking cosmetic procedures should be screened for depressive symptoms with a special focus on recent significant losses such as bereavement and divorce. A direct enquiry about abuse history can be psychiatrically destabilizing and heighten suicide risk in patients who may seek cosmetic procedures as an unconscious attempt to “fix” a body that is perceived as tainted by childhood sexual abuse.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada

    Madhulika A. Gupta

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  1. Madhulika A. Gupta
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Correspondence to Madhulika A. Gupta .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Miranda A. Farage

  2. Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Kenneth W. Miller

  3. Department Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

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© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Gupta, M.A. (2015). Aging Skin: Some Psychosomatic Aspects. In: Farage, M., Miller, K., Maibach, H. (eds) Textbook of Aging Skin. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27814-3_90-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27814-3_90-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27814-3

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