[kadoban]

That does indeed seem to be the reason. As the article states it: "[T]he Krukenberg procedure's poor cosmesis makes it very rare [...]"

I'm sure self-image is a complicated consideration when someone is dealing with an amputation, I can't imagine trying to assess what the right choice for another person would be in that kind of situation. But surgeons straight out refusing to perform it seems extreme, based on the limited information provided in the article.

[pjlegato]

Making that assessment is a part of the surgeon's job.

Perhaps they realized at some point that many patients are enthusiastic for the procedure before it's done, but most grow to hate it afterwards -- and blame the surgeon for having done the procedure to them.

Any given patient will have had zero prior experience with complex physiological and psychological post-operative outcomes, whereas surgeons do (individually or collectively.) It seems fitting that they should share that, and discourage patients from having procedures if outcomes are mainly bad.