Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a medical condition that has been around for many years. Despite this, it has risen in prevalence in recent years, as each generation focuses more on appearance. Body Dysmorphia is a very misunderstood condition, as it is often associated with vanity and self obsession. In fact, it is actually the opposite, and misinformation about the condition can be very damaging to those who suffer from BDD. Recent findings from Dr Mahsa Saleki show that the condition is on the rise in the last year, especially amongst younger generations… this poses the question, is social media and selfie culture to blame? Keep reading to find out more!
What is Body Dysmorphia?
Body Dysmorphic Disorder is an anxiety disorder which is linked to negative thoughts surrounding body image. It is often diagnosed when the sufferer has obsessive worries over one or more perceived physical flaws. The BDD sufferer may also develop compulsive behaviours or routines. These can range from excessive mirror checking, mirror avoidance, skin picking and self-harm.
Due to the symptoms of BDD, it is associated with other conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression. It is thought that people who suffer with these conditions may be more susceptible to BDD.
These intrusive thoughts and compulsions can cause extreme emotional distress to the sufferer and affect their confidence and self-worth. Like many other illnesses, BDD can range from mild to severe. For some sufferers, the condition is manageable but for others, it can cause a significant disruption to their daily life. BDD can have an impact on people’s relationships, work life and ability to enter public environments.
Many BDD sufferers do not speak up or seek help for the fear of being judged, or being perceived as vain and self-obsessed. This ultimately leads to the sufferer experiencing this issue for a longer time than necessary. It is very important that you seek help from your GP if you believe you may be suffering with BDD.
COVID-19’s Impact
The many lockdowns that we’ve had over the last 15 months have forced us to spend more time at home. For BDD sufferers, this may have caused an increase in compulsions and anxiety over going back out into the real world.
In addition to this, new work from home routines and regular Zoom calls has lead to many of us becoming hyper-aware of our appearance and features like never before. Due to this, we have seen new aesthetics trends such as the “zoom facelift”, offering to help you look more sculpted on your video calls.
Understandably, if you spend many hours per day staring at your reflection in Zoom, it is easy to highlight any imperfections that you may see or features that you do not like about yourself. Despite this, it is important to remember that Zoom is not real life and to take regular breaks away from your screen.
Social Media and Body Dysmorphia
With the ever increasing selfie culture, it has undoubtedly had an impact on the way that we see ourselves. As new face-editing apps and face changing filters are created each week, it can be hard to distinguish between what is real and what is not.
New filters which give that doll-like look by plumping cheeks and lips as if they’ve had dermal filler can be very damaging and also set unrealistic expectations and beauty standards.
It is especially damaging, when said influencers discuss their skincare or beauty routines but are using a filter. This is false advertising and again can lead to people having unrealistic expectations of themselves and of beauty products.
It is no surprise that 70% of BDD sufferers develop the condition prior to the age of 18. Young people are impressionable and are now exposed to a wide range of images on social media.
We recently spoke to the lifestyle influencer Isabella Duder about this topic in depth. It was refreshing to hear about this topic from an influencer’s perspective. In the video we also discussed the pressures that come with being ‘photo ready’ all the time. Check out the Q&A here on our YouTube channel!
Aesthetics Treatments and Body Dysmorphia
We always support people wanting aesthetics and skin treatments- it’s what we do at the end of the day! Despite this, we also have a duty of care towards our clients. This is why we offer consultations prior to treatment. The consultation allows us to discuss your motivations behind wanting the treatment and so that we can manage your expectations.
We fully encourage the use of treatments such as dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections to enhance your features, rather than changing them completely. Doctor Youssef Haffar specialises in producing natural and undetectable results, which still leave you looking like yourself, rather than a different person.
There are warning signs which any injector should be aware of when dealing with clients. These signs may signal that they are suffering from BDD and therefore are not suitable for treatment. If you choose a doctor-lead clinic for your treatments, you can be assured that your injector will be aware of the condition and trained to deal with it sensitively and correctly.
For BDD sufferers, they may seek surgical and non-surgical treatments to “fix” their perceived flaw and mask it. The downside of this is, due to the nature of the condition, the treatment will not suddenly stop the obsessions and may actually encourage them even more.
Once again, if you feel as though you may be suffering with BDD, please book an appointment with your GP. There are also charities such as the BDD Foundation and Samaritans who will be happy to support you.
Make sure to follow us over on Instagram @simplyclinics & @dryoussefhaffar for more beauty and aesthetics content!
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