Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) needs to be mentioned even by a doctor who is a cosmetic surgery expert. That’s because it is a serious condition which needs to be treated and as a board certified practitioner, I want to ensure that there is awareness about this condition amongst all my patients; current and future.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder refers to obsessiveness about how one looks and finding imaginary physical defects in your appearance. A person suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder feels concerned about and exaggerates even defects that are minimal in nature. Most of the focus of a person with Body Dysmorphic Disorder is about their face.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder may start in adolescence and can become chronic later in life. A patient suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder may consult with many different plastic surgeons to undergo procedures which may be unnecessary.
People with Body Dysmorphic Disorder often demonstrate the following symptoms:
- Looking into reflective surfaces frequently
- Avoiding looking into mirrors
- Picking skin or repeatedly touching perceived defects
- Avoiding social situations where the perceived defect may be visible to others
- Anxiety in group settings
Body Dysmorphic Disorder requires psychiatric treatment but may be difficult to treat because patient may insist it’s physical and not mental origin. The best people to catch this Body Dysmorphic Disorder may be referring physicians or primary care physicians.
Again, the reason I even mention this Body Dysmorphic Disorder is because it can lead to serious complications, depression, and even suicide in people suffering from it. As a physician, I believe that we have a moral obligation to shed light on scenarios and conditions that may harm any individual.
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