Cosmetic breast augmentation and eating disorders.

AIMS: To comment on the relation between eating disorders and requests for cosmetic surgery in some women.

METHODS

We report two cases of women who were accepted for cosmetic breast augmentation while suffering from current anorexia and bulimia nervosa.

RESULTS

For both women, the motivation for seeking cosmetic surgery was directly related to the body image distortion and dissatisfaction which were an inherent part of the eating disorder.

CONCLUSION

It is our contention that women with eating disorders require treatment to address the distortion in body image, and the belief that cosmetic surgery will result in satisfaction with their bodies. Screening for eating disorders and body image disturbance should be a routine part of assessment for cosmetic surgery.