9608-276 Willard
Willard SG, McDermott BE, Woodhouse LM.
Lipoplasty in the bulimic patient.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 1996 Aug;98(2):276-8. PMID: 8764715
Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine,
New Orleans, LA, USA.
Recent cases in our Eating Disorders Clinic suggest that patients diagnosed with
bulimia nervosa seeking surgical fat removal may be exhibiting a variant of the
purging behavior seen in bulimic patients. These same patients exhibit
historical or concurrent abuse of laxatives and/or diuretics or self-induced
vomiting in a pathologic attempt to obtain or maintain an idealized body image.
This paper presents two case studies that illustrate the bulimic patient's
compulsive quest for lipectomy with unrealistic expectations that surgical
alteration of the body will be an emotional and physical panacea. Plastic
surgeons must be cautioned regarding this potential manifestation of bulimia
nervosa and the dangers inherent in colluding with the patient in a pathologic
request for surgery. It is important for plastic surgeons to recognize
appropriate use of lipectomy as an alternative to traditional purging behavior
in the bulimic patient.
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