Attractiveness, Cosmetic Surgery, and Psychological Impact

The Psychological Influence of Attractiveness and Surgery

Physical appearance, whether naturally given or altered by cosmetic surgery, significantly influences an individual's behavior and self-perception. Both conventionally attractive individuals and those who are not may develop personality disorders.

Appearance and Personality Disorders

Research by Panagiotis Milothridi and collaborators (2016) highlights specific psychological risks associated with attractiveness levels:

• Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD): Attractive individuals often arouse a societal need for admiration. This can lead to the development of NPD, frequently driving them to seek surgical procedures more often.
• Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPD): Individuals who are not conventionally attractive may develop AvPD. Due to their physical appearance, they are highly sensitive to negative evaluation and societal rejection.

Self-Esteem and Social Interaction Challenges

Both individuals who achieve attractiveness through cosmetic surgery and those who are generally considered unattractive often face difficulties in social relationships. This is primarily due to contrasting self-perceptions:

• When perceived as handsome, the individual may develop a sense of superiority.
• When perceived as unattractive, the individual often develops an inferiority complex.

Furthermore, both groups frequently struggle with self-esteem issues. For instance, a woman who undergoes cosmetic surgery does so to improve aspects of herself she dislikes, while a woman who consistently feels unattractive often experiences unhappiness regarding her physical appearance.

Societal Stereotypes and Mental Health Recommendations

We live in a world heavily stereotyped by physical appearance, which has led to an exponential increase in cosmetic surgery procedures. Whether attractiveness is achieved surgically or naturally, physical appearance profoundly impacts emotions, attitudes, and actions.

Seeking Professional Help

To mitigate the risk of developing personality disorders related to body image, seeking consultation with a mental health specialist is highly recommended. Block & Sarwer (2013) emphasize the necessity of thorough evaluation:

“The mental health professional should complete a detailed assessment of the patient’s psychiatric status and history, body image concerns, and motivations and expectations.”

Appearance and Life Opportunities

Physical appearance also influences access to various life opportunities. An individual who is attractive, perhaps due to cosmetic surgery, may access greater and better opportunities than someone who is not conventionally attractive.

Important Note: It must be stressed that physical attractiveness, or lack thereof, bears no relation to a person's cognitive ability, reasoning skills, or IQ.