Increasing numbers of women seek to improve their physical appearance through augmentation mammoplasty (AM), often as a result of underlying psychological problems. Because of methodological problems in many studies, the reported prevalence of psychopathology in these patients varies widely. This study was designed to ascertain the presence of negative bodily experience and depression in patients requesting AM. The study cohort of 30 patients (mean age 30,4 years) was matched and compared with a hospital control group (mean age 30,8 years) who had never requested AM and had been admitted for minor surgery. The two groups were sociodemographically equivalent, the typical patient being a relatively well-educated white housewife. Each patient underwent individual psychological assessment, which included a semistructured interview, mental status examination and administration of the Beck Depression Inventory. Apart from several psychological problems related to a negative bodily experience, results indicated that varying degrees of depression were present to a significant extent in most patients seeking AM, emphasising the need for careful pre-operative psychological assessment and treatment of those patients who may require it.