Cosmetic Treatments and Body

In 2009, approximately 12.5 million cosmetic surgical (eg, breast augmentation, rhinoplasty) and minimally invasive procedures, (eg, Botox injections and chemical peels) were performed in the United States.1 The number of cosmetic procedures performed in the United States has increased by more than 60% since 2000.1 As these statistics suggest, cosmetic procedures are popular. Numerous theoretical explanations for the popularity of cosmetic procedures have been put forth, including the large body of social psychological research regarding the important role of physical appearance in daily life, the role of the mass media in perpetuating unrealistic images of beauty ideals, and technological advances in cosmetic medicine that allow procedures to be performed more safely and with less recovery time than in the past.2 Not surprisingly, there is interest, among treatment providers and patients alike, in understanding the psychological motivations that underlie the pursuit of these treatments. This interest is by no means new because there is a large litCanice E. Crerand, PhD, is with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Psychology, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; and The Edwin and Fannie Gray Hall Center for Human Appearance. David B. Sarwer, PhD, is with the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Department of Surgery (Division of Plastic Surgery); the Edwin and Fannie Gray Hall Center for Human Appearance; and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Weight and Eating Disorders. Address correspondence to: Canice E. Crerand, PhD, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 34th and Civic Center Boulevard, Wood Ambulatory Care Building, First Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104; and [email protected]. Dr. Crerand has disclosed no relevant fi nancial relationships. Dr. Sarwer has disclosed the following relevant fi nancial relationships: Consultant: Allergan, BAROnova, EnteroMedics, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Renovo; Research Grant Recipient: National Institutes of Health, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery doi: 10.3928/00485713-20100701-07 Canice E. Crerand, PhD; and David B. Sarwer, PhD