Prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder in rhinoplasty candidates: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

BACKGROUND: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a prevalent mental disorder, particularly in those seeking plastic surgery, leading to unnecessary surgeries and postsurgical dissatisfaction. Among the plastic surgeries, rhinoplasty is the most commonly sought, yet the data on prevalence of BDD among the candidates of rhinoplasty is limited. Therefore, this systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of BDD in rhinoplasty candidates. METHODS: The online libraries of Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, Research Square, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched up to August 2022. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA software (v. 16). The heterogeneity was determined using the I (2) statistic, and an overall estimated analysis was conducted. Subgroup analyses were performed on study year, age, gender, World Health Organization regional classification, sociodemographic index, country, sample size, and employed diagnostic tool. A meta‐regression analysis was performed to identify potential sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Out of 12,999 studies assessed, 18, with a combined sample size of 2132 individuals, met our criteria and were included in the study. The pooled prevalence of BDD was 32.7% (95% CI: 23.6−41.7; I (2) = 96.45%). Subgroup analyses revealed the studies that were conducted in the European region (42.8%), with a sample size of ≥100 (40.2%), utilized the BDD modification of the Y‐BOCS (BDD‐YBOCS) diagnostic method (47.3%), and with a quality score of ≥6 (34.2%) demonstrated higher prevalence of BDD. The meta‐regression analysis identified a higher prevalence in the BDD‐YBOCS diagnostic method than in the BDD questionnaire (β: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.04−0.43; p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of BDD is high in those seeking rhinoplasty. Clinicians should be aware of BDD symptoms to prevent unnecessary surgery and dissatisfaction. Public awareness through the media and access to affordable medical services should also be provided.