Body Dysmorphic Disorder Symptoms
Two weeks ago, when I was flipping channels just looking for something interesting to watch on TV, I came across a Japanese horror film about a woman who was addicted to plastic surgery. Apologies, I can’t recall the title of the movie…
This woman went for one surgery after another till the cosmetic surgeon who was operating on her eventually did not even know how her patient looked like. That was because the patient insisted on doing revision procedures even while the face was still swollen. She was just never satisfied with the results.
Finally, the patient ended up looking just like the cosmetic surgeon herself. The patient eventually used her appearance to steal her cosmetic surgeon’s identity and boyfriend. She got into a fight with her cosmetic surgeon. In the struggle, she got killed. Even as she lay dying, she was still asking her cosmetic surgeon this question, “Do you think I’m beautiful?”
This is very typical of body dysmorphic disorder. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a type of anxiety disorder in which people have a distorted body image, and it has become a growing concern among women and even men. BDD is thought to be associated with a chemical imbalance in the brain that may have a genetic basis.
Some people suffering from BDD can function and cope with daily life, but others experience paralyzing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Undergoing cosmetic surgery and treatments become a type of addiction for these people.
The signs and symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder vary and may include
- frequently comparing the appearance of the perceived defect with the appearance of others. Perceived defects may include minor or imaginary physical flaws like acne, scarring, facial lines, marks, pale skin, thinning hair, excessive body hair, large nose, or crooked nose
- excessive grooming
- paralyzing feelings of self-consciousness, anxiety and stress about the perceived flaw and spending a lot of time focusing on it, such as frequently picking at skin, excessively checking appearance in a mirror
- camouflaging and hiding the imperfection
- constantly seeking assurance from others about how they look
- spend an inordinate amount of time attempting to convince others that something about them is unattractive
- getting cosmetic surgery
Cosmetic surgery can make BDD worse. After one cosmetic surgery procedure, the person may start to focus attention on another body area and become preoccupied trying to fix the new “defect”. Some patients with BDD become angry at the surgeon for making their appearance worse and may even become violent towards the surgeon.
If you suspect you or a family member may be suffering from this potentially life-threatening condition, seek body dysmorphic disorder treatment from a doctor or mental health professional. BDD should be taken seriously. Getting cosmetic surgery when you show symptoms of BDD is no different from a drug addict taking drugs.
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