This number is probably an underestimation as the definition of disfigurement is loose.
Facial disfigurement is a major source of distress but has been little studied.
There is similarly a lack of studies of attitudes towards disfigured individuals, and behaviour during interaction with them. In the case of facial disfigurement, social functioning is reported as a major area of difficulty by sufferers. Body image is a key element of many health care interventions, but it is a poorly defined term. Altered body image is a source of distress, particularly following facial disfigurement. Disfigured people tend to be rated at the bottom of attractiveness scales.