What’s the Connection Between Cosmetic Procedures and Mental Health?

As interest in plastic surgery rises, so does the need to better screen patients for body dysmorphia

Body image concerns are generally the main motivator for seeking cosmetic procedures of all kinds. Prostock-studio/Shutterstock

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports a surge in interest in cosmetic plastic surgery since the COVID-19 pandemic led many people to video calls and made them hyper-aware of their own appearance.

In 2015, the Cosmetic Physicians College of Australasia found Australians were spending more than $1 billion a year on noninvasive cosmetic procedures such as Botox and fillers. This is more than 40 percent higher, per capita, than in the United States.