Prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder among Saudis seeking facial plastic surgery

Importance: Nonpsychiatric physicians often encounter body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) which is a common psychiatric disorder. In the general population, BDD is estimated to affect 1%–2%. In esthetic specialties, however, rates are markedly higher. Objective: This study aims to quantify the prevalence of BDD among people seeking facial plastic surgeries in Saudi Arabia because the literature is sparse in this field. Design: This is a cross-sectional study, conducted in 2018 (October–December). Setting: A self-administered web-based questionnaire was administered on 453 individuals, aged 18 years and older, of Saudi residence. Participants: A total of 453 individuals, aged 18 years and older, of Saudi residence, were enrolled in the study. Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s): The study has three main measures which are: (1) sociodemographic data, (2) previous and future plastic surgeries, and (3) the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire. Results: A total of 453 individuals were enrolled in this study. Of the total sample, 34.2% reported their desire to go for a facioplastic surgery in future, of which 14.19% fulfilled the criteria of BDD. Twenty-two individuals who fulfilled the criteria were all females (100%). All were relatively young, with 54.5% aging between 18 and 24 years of age, followed by 45.5% aging between 25 and 34 years of age. The majority were married 54.5%, with the rest being single. The majority of individuals (59.1%) live in cities, followed by 36.4% living in villages and 4.5% living in outskirts. Nearly 68.2% hold a college degree, followed by 27.3% holding a high school degree. The vast majority reported the desire to undergo a rhinoplasty (54.5%), followed by facial implants (9.1%), facelift (4.5%), eyebrow lift (4.5%), and cheek/jaw contouring (4.5%). Conclusion: We report a prevalence of 14.19% among people seeking facial plastic surgery. This prevalence is warring, requiring special attention by facioplastic surgeons, plastic surgeons, and dermatologists, when dealing with patients. We recommend the screening of all patients to be a standard practice to ensure the best outcome possible.