Evaluation of postoperative satisfaction with rhinoseptoplasty in patients with symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder among candidates for plastic surgery may vary from 6% to 54%. Some studies report discrete benefits with the surgical results, while others show symptomatic exacerbation. Some authors even affirm that body dysmorphic disorder would be a surgical contraindication, against others who suggest satisfactory results. OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder in rhinoseptoplasty candidates and to compare outcomes among patients with and without body dysmorphic disorder symptoms. METHODS: Cohort study. Individuals ≥ 16 years, candidates for aesthetic and/or functional rhinoseptoplasty were recruited at a university hospital in Brazil. The prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder was assessed through the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Examination (BDDE) and the patients divided into groups: no symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder, mild-moderate and severe symptoms. The specific quality of life outcomes, Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) and Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) were evaluated before and after 90 and 180 days of the procedure. RESULTS: 131 individuals were included, 59.5% female. The prevalence of preoperative symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder was 38%. There was a reduction in the symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder in the preoperative body dysmorphic disorder examination versus 3 and 6 months in all groups (78.94 ± 2.46 vs. 33.63 ± 6.41 and 35.51 ± 5.92, respectively, p < 0.002). Among patients with severe body dysmorphic disorder symptoms, rhinoplasty outcome evaluation ranged from 21.24 ± 3.88 to 58.59 ± 5.83 at 3 months and 52.02 ± 5.41 at 6 months postoperatively (p < 0.001); while NOSE from 71 ± 8.47 to 36.11 ± 12.10 at 6 months postoperatively (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder symptoms in our sample was high. Rhinoseptoplasty was associated with an improvement in quality of life outcomes related to nasal function and aesthetic outcome in all groups, irrespective of the presence and intensity of body dysmorphic disorder symptoms. Rhinoseptoplasty in body dysmorphic disorder symptomatic patients was also associated with a reduction in postoperative body dysmorphic disorder symptoms, even in severe cases.