A recent Forbes article suggests a potential connection between dermal fillers and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a condition estimated by the BDD Foundation to occur in 2% of the adult population.

The percentage of BDD patients who seek a variety of cosmetic interventions—both surgical and nonsurgical—is between two and five times the number in the general population, according to the International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation.

The Forbes article notes that, while individuals with BDD commonly seek out and receive cosmetic treatments to correct their perceived flaws instead of seeking psychiatric care, the enhancements do not usually make their worries disappear and the level of distress sometimes worsens.

Also cited is a Journal of Medical Ethics article highlighting ethical challenges raised when individuals with possible BDD consult for cosmetic procedures. The author, Natalie M. Lane, recommends thoroughly evaluating the harms and benefits of cosmetic interventions on a case-by-case basis.