#Plasticsurgery – BDD Does Happen To Us

We all have whined about the way we look on occasion like bigger eyes, a v-shaped face, a smaller nose or a slimmer waist. But for people who have Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) this concerns is constant that they will go shocking lengths to change or cover the way they look. People with BDD are 15 times more frequent in patients to seek for obtaining plastic surgery. Moreover, BDD patients have been found to have an increased tendency toward performing violent or threatening behaviours toward their surgeons.

To a person who has BDD, happiness is always related to beauty. Although this person may even look beautiful to others, they are often defeated by negative feelings about their appearance. Alicia Douvall, a former English glamour model and also known to be Simon Cowell’s ex girlfriend is a self-confessed plastic surgery addict. She had spent over £1m on over 350 plastic surgery procedures all over her body such as injections of Botox and fillers, nose jobs, remove implants and a rob and toes shortened with a goal to look like a human Barbie. She told the surgeons she wanted to be ‘perfect’. Surgery is the primary thing she wanted to spend money on.

However, the surgeries didn’t give her the look she wished to have but it ruined her body, her face and even her relationship with the person who means a lot to her, her daughters. She mentioned that her surgery addiction was driven by her undiagnosed battle with BDD. She said: “I was on anti-depressants because I was so upset about what I had done to myself and it was my psychotherapist who suggested I might have dysmorphia”. She was also sent to rehab where she was treated like other addict. There was lots of psychotherapy that they helped her to build herself up from scratch. After the therapies, she believes: “I may need surgery again to correct damage caused by too many operations, but I won’t if I can help it”.

Douvall’s plastic surgery obsession is not just simply vanity. It is BDD. It is a psychological disorder manifesting in a perceived flaw of the person’s body appearance. She believes that her obsession to look beautiful is caused by an unhappy childhood, with her father calling her ugly. She had her first breast enlargement as a teenager when she was a glamour model that earned a huge amount of income. Although the changes she paid for her appearance, she was never believed being beautiful enough.

She is now recovered and has survived these challenges of her life. She is having a stable relationship with an anonymous billionaire who helped her bounce back in the right shape and mindset. During an interview, Douvall warned plastic surgery striver that undergoing the operation is not a cure for life’s insecurities and problems.

When BDD is behind cosmetic surgery addiction

BDD patients always display unrealistic expectations about surgery. They may think that the operation will lead them to a better relationship or a higher paying career. In some cases, it is disturbing for some BDD patients to have more and more cosmetic surgeries in desperation to achieve that ‘perfect look when they are satisfied with their cosmetic surgery results. Unfortunately, in their pursuit of perfection, they end up diminishing rather than enhancing their natural beauty.

Does Cosmetic Surgery really help Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

Plastic surgery can enhance the spirit and the body. Its many advocates can boast the physical and mental benefits. However, behind the growing popularity of cosmetic surgery always lies insidious factors like peer pressure low self-esteem, bullying and even Body Dysmorphic Disorder. When there are pre-surgery screening points toward BDD, the patient should be referred to a psychotherapist or a mental health treatment.

Reference:

Fletcher,V. and Petre, J. 2013, ‘Why did nobody stop me wasting £1m to be the world’s most nipped and tucked woman? Alicia Douvall’s 16 boob jobs, six nose jobs and 308 cosmetic treatments’, Daily Mail Australia, viewed 7 September, 2016, <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2297998/Alicia-Douvall-Why-did-stop-worlds-nipped-tucked-woman-wasting-1m-16-boob-jobs-eye-watering-308-cosmetic-treatments.html >

Having body insecurities seems to be a relentless struggle for people of all ages. This is also a common disorder in society even some of the famous celebrities have struggled with it. It is not surprise that some of the superstars or celebrities may suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Actually, mental health experts have alluded that they have treated celebrities for BDD but they are not allowed to share any names because the patients usually require them to keep their disorder a secret. Whatever it is, I want to make a point that no one needs to suffer alone! Here are 5 celebrities’ confessions that they have Body Dysmorphic-type symptoms to variable degrees:

1. Robert Pattinson

Actor Robert Pattinson earned enormous frame and made millions for the role in the five “Twilight” films, but these all couldn’t buy him peace of mind. During an interview with Australia’s Sunday Style magazine, he revealed that he had suffered from anxiety and body dysmorphic disorder issues that he claimed there were crippling waves of anxiety to his body prior to red carpet events. Pattinson said “I get a ton of anxiety, right up until the second I get out of the car to the event, when suddenly it completely dissipates”. “But up until that moment I’m a nut case. Body dysmorphia, overall tremendous anxiety.”

While he has been considered, as a Hollywood A-list star and even had been placed 15th on People magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive“ list in 2009, he claimed that he frequently suffers from low self-esteem. He said “I don’t have a six-pack and I hate going to the gym. I’ve been like that my whole life. I never want to take my shirt off ” and he stated that he would prefer to “get drunk” rather than exercise.

2.Reid Ewing

Modern Family actor Reid Ewing revealed on The Huffington Post that he had suffered from body dysmorphic disorder for years and underwent numerous cosmetic surgeries. He was never satisfied with the results of his various operations including chin implants and cheek and he kept going back for more and more operations.

When he first moved to LA, all he wanted to do is sit in his apartment and take photos of himself from every angle. His first operation was at age 19 for a cheek implantation that left his lower cheeks “as hollow as a corpse’s.” He then had more and more operations to fix what the surgery had started that he believes that was unethical and ineffective. He said, “I genuinely believed if I had one operation I would suddenly look like Brad Pitt”. But he ended up where he needed to borrow money from his family to settle the surgeries’ payment. Ewing revealed that many of the corrective operations carried out while he was filming Modern Family, in which he plays the role, Dylan for Haley’s boyfriend During that time, he had removed the implants and had tried fat injections and injectable fillers.

3.Uma Thurman

Thurman developed body dysmorphic-type symptoms after giving birth to her daughter. She described herself as “strange looking” and was obsessively worried about her weight. During an interview with TALK Magazine, she confessed, “Ever since I had my baby I’ve had that body dysmorphic disorder. I see myself as fat”.

4. Lily Allen

Allen is a famous artist for dressing in very little to impress the audience. However, she admitted that she had struggled with weight-based body dysmorphia. She wrote in 2007:“I’m afraid I am not strong and have fallen victim to the evil machine. I write to you in a sea of tears from my hotel bed in Seattle. I have spent the past hour researching gastric bypass surgery and laser liposuction.”

5. Marilyn Monroe

Monroe was obsessed with herself by looking in the mirror and trying to look better. She had experimented with different faces on set. Monroe’s stylist believed that her obsessions with the mirror were a form of body dysmorphia through which Monroe desired to endlessly change and examine her face. She was known for her insecurities but celebrated by her gorgeous looks and talent.

They are suffering right along with you! People shouldn’t suffer alone and feel ashamed about their BDD. These stories are just to encourage the people who have body-type symptoms to seek advice and support when they are in the early stages in order to prevent worsening their disorder and get back to normal and happy life. Please feel free to start conversation and debate here in the comment section below or visit our Facebook or twitter. Let’s share your own story to empower people with BDD to open up or show your support for BDD.

References:

Durwood, S. 2016, ‘14 Celebrities Who May Suffer From Body Dysmorphia’, Oxygen Media LLC, viewed 2 September 2016, < http://www.oxygen.com/very-real/14-celebrities-who-suffer-from-body-dysmorphia >

Reuman, L. 2011, ‘Celebrity Confessions: Body Dysmorphic Disorder Edition’, OCD & Related Disorders Program, viewed 2 September 2016, < https://mghocd.org/celebrity-confessions-body-dysmorphic-disorder-edition/ >