Why Cosmetic Surgery Addiction Leads to Opioid Abuse

Nowadays, it’s normal for people to have a part of their physical features or attributes altered by way of cosmetic surgery just because they don’t like it. Some of the most used and often abused surgical procedures include rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, and liposuctions. When and where cosmetic surgery has transitioned into becoming an addiction, many have also developed a dependence on the opioid-based pain relief medication.

Cosmetic Surgery amd Body Dysmorphic

Syndrome: A Bad Combination

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a rare psychiatric condition of manifesting persistent obsession on perceived negative features to a point of resorting to intrusive medical intervention. The seriousness of the disorder varies yet the afflicted persons all suffer both physical and emotional distress from their experience. At times the extent of the distress experiencing over a physical flaw is extremely out of proportion. As soon as they can afford cosmetic surgery, they develop a psychological compulsion to undergo as many surgeries they can afford.

A common misconception about people who regularly go under the knife of a plastic surgeon is that they are  self-absorbed. Psychologists though see them as individuals who have developed an addiction to cosmetic surgery because they are struggling with a debilitating body dysmorphia disorder.

Statistics reveal that 1% to 2% of the US general population are affected by BDD, but the prevalence of people looking to undergo plastic surgery but without BDD is 15 times more.

The Connection between Opioid Abuse and Plastic Surgery Addiction

Aside from the correlation between plastic surgery addiction, and psychological problem, a third element opioid abuse also becomes a cause of concern. The pain associated with the plastic surgery, which prolongs throughout a long term healing process can be debilitating and very painful. Such condition makes the prescription of opioid painkillers a necessity in managing postoperative pain. However, as cosmetic surgery could take weeks or even months to heal, it denotes that the use of opioid painkillers is likewise extended.

Individuals suffering from plastic surgery addiction are more at risk for opioid abuse mostly because of their low self-esteem and negative perception of their image. The dependence on opioid medications to numb feelings not only of physical but also emotional pain spawns the development of opioid addiction.

Statistically, it was estimated that in 2018, around 11.4 million people in the United States were admitted for rehabilitation for using narcotic-based pain relievers that were not prescribed by medical professionals. The CDC noted that Arizona had the most number of medical prescriptions for narcotic pain relievers like heroin, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (Oxycontin or Percocet), Codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), methadone; and morphine.

The aforementioned drugs can cause physical dependence where an individual needs to rely on the drug in order to for them not to experience any withdrawal symptoms. After a long period of time, this would develop into drug tolerance where more of the drug is needed to have an effect. In case your reading this because you know of someone who has become opioid dependent as a result of multiple plastic surgeries, a highly recommended detox Phoenix AZ rehabilitation center is Axiom Care