Few studies have been done to find out how common it is with the combination of eating disorders and beauty procedures.
But a group of German researchers has published their results in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery.
The 212 people included in the study had all undergone various types of beauty procedures.
It turned out that eleven percent of them had an eating disorder at some point in their lives.
Among those who did liposuction, the figure was even higher - as much as 20 percent.
These are significantly higher figures than among the general population.
This worries eating disorder researchers, as they think the combination of plastic surgery and eating disorders is unfortunate.
- We have had patients who tried to have plastic surgery to change their shape or size, says Cynthia Bulik is professor of eating disorders at Karolinska Institutet and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
Professor: Should be assessed before beauty procedures
She believes that there is a risk that people with eating disorders will use plastic surgery as a way to deal with their body dissatisfaction and that it will be a short-term solution to their problems.
- It should be regularly assessed if someone has an eating disorder before undergoing plastic surgery, says Cynthia Bulik.
Because we see how these people operate, feel better for a while and then operate again.
Agnes feels helped
Agnes tells in the documentary series Ätstört that after the beauty procedures she has done, among other things to remove excess skin and tissue after her weight loss and correct previous operations, she now feels better.
- I have long hidden under big clothes, but now I am a little more proud of my own body.
Cynthia Bulik is a researcher and not familiar with Agnes' case, but speaks generally about people who have or have had eating disorders.
Eating Disorder, a documentary series in three parts - watch it on SVT Play.