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	<title>OCD Center of Los Angeles &#187; Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)</title>
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		<title>Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) Research &#8211; Year in Review</title>
		<link>http://www.ocdla.com/blog/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd-research-review-1106</link>
		<comments>http://www.ocdla.com/blog/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd-research-review-1106#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:50:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>OCD Center of Los Angeles</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Body Image]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cosmetic Surgery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Obsessions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Plastic Surgery]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Tom Corboy of the OCD Center of Los Angeles reviews research studies published in 2010 related to Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).]]></description>
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<p><em>Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a condition in which one has an obsessive preoccupation with his or her physical appearance.</em> <em>We recently posted two articles about the condition, one on <a title="Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) in the mass media" href="http://www.ocdla.com/blog/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd-news-946">BDD in the media</a>, and the other on <a title="Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) in teens" href="http://www.ocdla.com/blog/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd-teens-986">BDD in teenagers</a>.  In the final installment of our three part series, we look at recent research related to this condition.</em></p>
<h3>Body Dysmorphic Disorder and How We See Ourselves</h3>
<div id="attachment_1132" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 281px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1132      " title="Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)" src="/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Woman-with-BDD-45-271x300.jpg" alt="Researchers are learning more about Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)" width="271" height="300" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Researchers are learning more about Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)</p></div>
<p>This past year saw a number of interesting research studies on the topic of body image and <a title="Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) information" href="http://www.ocdla.com/bodydysmorphicdisorder.html">Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)</a>.  One study surveyed over 2200 men and women of various body types regarding their self-perceptions related to weight and body image.  Those who completed the survey were evaluated for their body-mass index (BMI), a ratio of height to weight that provides a range of numerical values for what could be described as a “healthy weight”.  Participants were also instructed to describe how they perceived their bodies, using a range of terms such as “slim” and “fat”.</p>
<p><a title="Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and body image report" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8234891/Women-feel-fat-when-they-look-in-the-mirror-no-matter-what-their-weight.html">The study</a> found that only 13% of the women participants who were evaluated as having a “healthy” weight for their height (BMI) were satisfied with their overall appearance.  More disturbing was the finding that only 6% of these women saw themselves as being “slim”.  Conversely, only 6% of the male participants who were evaluated as having a healthy BMI saw themselves as “fat”.  Furthermore, of the study participants who were actually overweight, twice as many women as men described themselves as being &#8220;ashamed&#8221; of their bodies.  The most obvious conclusion we can draw from these data is that men and women see themselves in startlingly different ways, and have very different emotional reactions to their weight.<span id="more-1106"></span></p>
<h3>Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Body Image, and Cosmetic Surgery</h3>
<p>One of the most problematic issues in treating Body Dysmorphic Disorder is the high percentage of clients who respond to their body image obsessions by having repeated cosmetic surgeries.  Two studies published in 2010 looked at the relationship between BDD and cosmetic surgery.</p>
<p>One study, published in the <a title="Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) / cosmetic surgery study" href="http://www.eblue.org/article/S0190-9622%2809%2901210-9/abstract">Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology</a>, looked at the rate of BDD in patients presenting for dermatology treatment.  The study compared patients who had come to treatment for general dermatology procedures with those who were specifically seeking cosmetic procedures.  The study found that 6.7% of those requesting general dermatology care met the diagnostic criteria for BDD.  On the other hand, 14% of those seeking cosmetic procedures met the criteria for BDD.  A control group (individuals not seeking dermatological care of either type) had a 2% prevalence of BDD, roughly matching the rate of BDD in the general population.</p>
<p><a title="Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) / plastic surgery study" href="http://fyiliving.com/depression/plastic-surgery-doesnt-help-body-image/">Another study</a>, published in the Annals of Plastic Surgery, investigated how 200 individuals diagnosed with BDD responded psychologically to their surgeries.  Unfortunately, the results exposed the flaw with using surgical approaches to this condition.</p>
<p>The first noteworthy finding was that 21% of the participants had resorted to surgery in an effort to address their body image concerns.  More importantly, of those who had undergone surgery, only 25% reported long-term feelings of satisfaction about the outcome of their cosmetic procedures.  And only 2.3% reported long-term reduction in their BDD symptoms after surgery.  The message from these two studies is that a high number of people with BDD seek out surgical solutions to their body image obsessions, but only a small percentage of those who do so see any appreciable decline in their BDD symptoms.  In other words, plastic surgery should not be seen as a viable means of treating BDD.</p>
<h3>So Why Do People Have Such a Distorted view of Their Bodies</h3>
<p>All of the above research begs the question – why do some people, specifically those with BDD, have such a distorted body image – some to the extent of being willing to undergo surgery in an effort to change their appearance.  Three studies published in 2010 shed light on this issue.</p>
<p>In one <a title="Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and distorted body image" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1286655/Do-I-look-fat-mirror-Why-woman-sees-reflection-shorter-wider-version-reality.html">study</a>, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, investigators asked participants to place their hand under a partition, thus making it impossible for the participants to see their hand.  They were then asked to point to where they thought their knuckles and fingertips were located under the partition.  The study found that, across the board, participants’ thoughts as to the length and width of their hands were “massively distorted”.  Specifically, study participants consistently perceived their hands to be shorter and wider than they actually were.  These findings suggest that how the brain perceives and/or represents our bodies may not be very accurate, and that the pronounced body image distortions seen in Body Dysmorphic Disorder may in fact have a biological / neurological basis.</p>
<p>Along these lines, a <a title="UCLA Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) study " href="http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/health/your_health&amp;id=7286252">study conducted at UCLA</a> looked at the visual processing of individuals diagnosed with BDD.  In the research, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, functional MRI’s were used to study the brains of individuals with BDD as compared to those without the condition. Participants were shown three different representations of the same face, each image having a different level of detail.</p>
<p>Lead investigator Dr. Jamie Feusner of UCLA noted that study participants with BDD were unable to fully process the images of “low-detail&#8221; faces.  When interviewed by ABC television regarding the research, he noted that the brains of those with BDD were not able to &#8220;see the whole picture&#8221;.  He went on to say that “their brains were underactive for processing shape and configuration…they may be seeing details, but in isolation.&#8221;  This research followed 2007 research conducted by Fuesner’s UCLA team that also used functional MRI’s.  In that study, researchers found that, compared to the control group of participants without BDD, individuals with BDD tended to focus more on details of faces rather than looking at faces as a whole.</p>
<p>The importance of the UCLA research is underscored by a third study that looked at <a title="BDD and how bees interpret faces" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/science/02bees.html?_r=1">how bees process visual information</a>.  Published in The Journal of Experimental Biology, the research found that bees can recognize faces, and that they do so utilizing the same neurological process as humans.  This technique, known as “configural processing”, allows the brains of bees and humans to internally assemble images of faces from the various detailed components of those faces.  In other words, bees and humans see the whole as a result of seeing and integrating the parts.  This research reinforces the importance of the UCLA research which found that individuals with BDD appear to have neurological limitations that lead them to over-focus on the details of faces, thus inhibiting their ability to accurately integrate those details into a more complete whole.</p>
<p>Obviously, none of the above research studies provide a magic bullet which would lead to an imminent cure for Body Dysmorphic Disorder.  But combined, they give us a fuller understanding of BDD, and provide research scientists avenues for future exploration that may yield better treatment options for those experiencing this painful disorder.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>•T</em><em>om Corboy, MFT, is the director of the <a title="OCD Center of Los Angeles" href="../../">OCD Center of Los Angeles</a>,  a private, outpatient clinic specializing in Cognitive-Behavioral  Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD),  Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), and related conditions. He can be  contacted <a title="Email the OCD Center of Los Angeles" href="mailto:director@ocdla.com">director@ocdla.com</a>.</em></p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Teens</title>
		<link>http://www.ocdla.com/blog/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd-teens-986</link>
		<comments>http://www.ocdla.com/blog/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd-teens-986#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:49:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>OCD Center of Los Angeles</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Body Image]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cosmetic Surgery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Elle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liposuction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Plastic Surgery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sabrina Weiss]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Increasing numbers of teens are having elective cosmetic surgeries to address body image issues, without fully considering the physical and psychological risks involved.     ]]></description>
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<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>Increasing numbers of teens are having elective cosmetic surgeries to address body image issues, without fully considering the physical and psychological risks involved. Part two of our three-part series on Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).</em></p>
<p>Our last post focused on <a title="Body Dysmorphic Disorder in the News" href="http://www.ocdla.com/blog/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd-news-946">Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), body image issues, and cosmetic surgery in the entertainment industry</a>.  While I can appreciate that movie stars and models to some extent depend on their appearance for their livelihoods, I worry about the message that stars’ cosmetic surgeries send to the public, particularly young women who see these stars as role models.  One recent news story focused on the <a title="More teens seeking cosmetic surgery" href="http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/s-wrong-me-why-teens-turn-plastic-surgery-3546035">increasing numbers of teens seeking cosmetic surgeries</a>.  The article noted three problematic issues specifically related to this growing trend of teens looking to surgically enhance their bodies:<span id="more-986"></span></p>
<ul>
<li>Teens’ bodies are still changing and growing, so      having surgeries before their bodies have fully grown is ill-advised;</li>
<li>Teens seeking cosmetic surgeries may be      suffering from depression and would be better advised to address their      feelings about themselves in a non-surgical manner</li>
<li>Teens often don’t understand the significant      risks involved in having any surgery, including the risk of disfigurement      and death.</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_998" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 211px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-998" title="Teens are increasingly seeking cosmetic surgery" src="/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/BDD-girl-201x300.jpg" alt="BDD girl" width="201" height="300" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Teens are increasingly seeking cosmetic surgery</p></div>
<p>On this last note, readers should be reminded that people can and do die as a result of complications from what are considered “routine” cosmetic surgeries.  Many will remember the publicity generated by the November 2007 <a title="Kanye West's mother dies after cosmetic surgery" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2007/11/13/2007-11-13_kanye_wests_mom_dies_after_cosmetic_surg.html">death of Kanye West’s mother</a> from complications related to having a tummy tuck and breast augmentation.  In fact, many people die each year following cosmetic procedures.  <a title="Review of mortality rates for cosmetic surgeries" href="http://www.dryoho.com/dr-yoho/clinical/deaths-cosmetic-surgery.cfm">One recent study</a> found the mortality rate for those undergoing liposuction was approximately one death for every 5000 patients, while approximately one out of every 350 patients undergoing this supposedly “routine” procedure experienced “significant complications”.</p>
<p>These findings were corroborated by a second study, while a third study suggested that, due to under-reporting, a more realistic mortality rate would be one death in every 1000 liposuction procedures.  And the rates for abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and facelifts are far worse.</p>
<p>Society has age-limits for access to certain things such as driving cars and drinking alcohol for the simple reason that teens are unlikely to have the maturity needed to handle the responsibilities inherent in these behaviors.  Should we not at least consider setting age-based limitations on elective cosmetic surgery?</p>
<p>A less dramatic, but equally compelling argument against teens having cosmetic surgery can be found in a <a title="Author regrets having had nose job as a teen" href="http://www.elle.com/Beauty/Health-Fitness/Regretting-Rhinoplasty">recent article in Elle magazine</a>.  The author, Sabrina Weiss, recounts her growing regret with having had a nose job just after her graduation from high school.  While initially pleased with the results of the procedure, Weiss over time came to feel she had lost a part of herself.  Upon encountering a picture of her father in his youth, she sees how much her nose job had robbed her of a connection to her father:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>“Despite everything the surgery did for me—and it did a lot—I wish I could undo it. At 31, I’ve come to appreciate the things I inherited from my father: his humor, his love of ketchup and Mondrian paintings. When he is gone, how will I reconcile my decision to erase something we once shared? I stared at the image, tears running down my cheeks.” </em></p>
<p>I’m confident that there are many teen girls who have no such regret about their decision to alter their natural appearance.  But Weiss’ story points to a question often not asked – are teenagers emotionally mature enough to make informed decisions about surgery that will permanently change their appearance?  In <a title="Woman regrets nose job" href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/04/29/cosmetic.surgery.graduation.gift/?hpt=T3">discussing the Elle article with CNN</a>, Weiss notes that her own thought process at the time was that of a typically immature teenager:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>“Looking back, if anyone had questioned my reasons for doing this, they would&#8217;ve seen it was irrational and a fantasy that having this surgery was going to somehow transform my entire life…my fantasy was that I&#8217;d have this surgery and I would turn into the person that would easily be able to connect with others and have this social ease.” </em></p>
<p>Unfortunately, Weiss notes that she can’t recall anybody questioning her motivation when she was preparing for her nose job.  What she does remember are the negative thoughts and feelings she had about her natural, pre-op nose.  She is painfully clear about how much her negative self-image at the time was related to her distorted thinking about her nose:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>&#8220;I felt it was a defect. It was a central obsession in my self-hatred. &#8230; I felt like it was all anyone saw when they looked at me.&#8221;</em></p>
<p>Her thoughts about her nose present an almost textbook example of the thought processes we see every day when treating clients with <a title="Information on Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)" href="http://www.ocdla.com/bodydysmorphicdisorder.html">Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)</a> – the over-valuing of a minor defect, the obsessionality, the self-hatred, the belief that others are focused on the alleged defect, and the belief that surgery will magically solve the problem.  It is difficult enough for a mature adult to contend with such negative body image issues, and unfortunately, teens are even less able to do so.  As Weiss notes:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>“As a teenager, you&#8217;re so myopic, you don&#8217;t think about the long-term consequences of what you do…it&#8217;s on the shoulder of parents and guardians to ask a lot of questions of their teenagers to get to the root of why they&#8217;re asking for this kind of surgery, to get them thinking about reasons below the surface for wanting this surgery.”</em></p>
<p>I am not advocating that teens be barred from having cosmetic procedure, nor that all cosmetic surgeries are evidence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder.  Rather, I am suggesting that teens, and their parents, think long and hard about their motivations in electing to undergo such procedures, and the potential risk of experiencing significant negative consequences.</p>
<p>For those interested in more information on the research linking cosmetic surgery and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), here are some suggested readings:</p>
<p><a title="Cosmetic dermatology patients more likely to have BDD" href="http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/Modern+Medicine+Now/Cosmetic-Dermatology-Patients-More-Likely-to-Have-/ArticleNewsFeed/Article/detail/681130?contextCategoryId=40130">Cosmetic Dermatology Patients More Likely to Have BDD</a></p>
<p><a title="Time magazine article about recent research on BDD and cosmetic surgery" href="http://wellness.blogs.time.com/2010/08/12/cosmetic-procedures-dont-shatter-body-image-delusions/">Cosmetic Procedures Won&#8217;t Shatter Body Image Delusions</a></p>
<p><a title="Los Angeles Times article on research on BDD and cosmetic surgery" href="http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-bodyimage-20100811,0,1107288.story?track=rss">Cosmetic Surgery To Fix What Ails You?  It Doesn&#8217;t Work.</a></p>
<p><a title="Cosmetic breast implant surgery may mask BDD" href="http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/38/22/26.3.full">Cosmetic Breast Implant Surgery May Mask Emotional Problems</a></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>•T</em><em>om Corboy, MFT, is the director of the <a title="OCD Center of Los Angeles" href="http://www.ocdla.com">OCD Center of Los Angeles</a>, a private, outpatient clinic specializing in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), and related conditions. He can be contacted <a title="Email the OCD Center of Los Angeles" href="mailto:director@ocdla.com">director@ocdla.com</a>.</em></p>
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		<title>Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Body Image in the News</title>
		<link>http://www.ocdla.com/blog/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd-news-946</link>
		<comments>http://www.ocdla.com/blog/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd-news-946#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:14:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>OCD Center of Los Angeles</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ann Taylor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Heidi Montag]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Aniston]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kim Kardashian]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Latisse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael Jackson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pamela Anderson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ralph Lauren]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Tom Corboy, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses recent news stories related to the topic of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and body image.]]></description>
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<p>Recently there have been a number of stories in the media that have touched upon the topic of <a title="Body Dysmorphic Disorder" href="http://www.ocdla.com/bodydysmorphicdisorder.html">Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)</a>.  These stories suggest the unfortunate extent to which women (and a growing number of men) appear to be internalizing extremely distorted ideas of beauty.</p>
<h3><strong>Will BDD become known as Heidi Montag Syndrome?</strong></h3>
<p>Perhaps the most public illustration of this growing problem is the case of Heidi Montag.  Until a year ago, I had never heard of Heidi Montag, and I still have no idea why she is famous.  Apparently, she is on a reality TV show called “The Hills”, which Stylite blogger Linda Ripoll describes as an “amazing exploration into self-hatred, body dysmorphic disorder, and addiction to plastic surgery”. <span id="more-946"></span> And while I have never seen her show, I would have to live in a cave to avoid hearing about the highly publicized cosmetic procedures she has had in recent months, including one day in which she reportedly had the following <em>ten</em> procedures performed at one time:</p>
<div id="attachment_965" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 249px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-965" title="Heidi Montag" src="/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Heidi-Montag7-239x300.jpg" alt="Heidi Montag after recent cosmetic surgeries " width="239" height="300" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Heidi Montag after recent cosmetic surgeries </p></div>
<ul>
<li>brow lift</li>
<li>botox in her brow</li>
<li>Revision of previous nose job</li>
<li>fat injections in cheeks, nasolabial folds and      lips</li>
<li>chin reduction</li>
<li>liposuction on neck</li>
<li>ears pinned back</li>
<li>breast augmentation revision</li>
<li>liposuction on waist, hips, and thighs</li>
<li>buttock augmentation.</li>
</ul>
<p>This orgy of body mutilation led Ripoll to suggest that BDD might become known as <strong>Heidi Montag Syndrome</strong>, much like <a title="Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)" href="http://www.ocdla.com/whatisOCD.html">OCD</a> has at times been called Howard Hughes Syndrome.  While I am not prepared to diagnose Ms. Montag from afar, one glance at the photo to the right suggests that she has a profoundly distorted idea of what a healthy woman’s body looks like.</p>
<p>Sadly, despite the multiple procedures that have left her with the outsized physical characteristics of a cartoon character, Montag is reportedly still not satisfied with her size DDD breasts, and is said to be considering having her them augmented yet again.  This cycle of cosmetic procedures, followed by dissatisfaction with the outcome of those procedures, followed by yet more procedures to counter the effects of the initial procedures, is a classic symptom of severe BDD, and suggests the possibility that Ms. Montag may yet supplant Michael Jackson as the most (in)famous representative of Body Dsymorphic Disorder.</p>
<h3><strong>Jennifer Aniston, Kim Kardashian, Pamela Anderson, et al</strong></h3>
<p>Unfortunately, Montag is not the only media personality to seek respite from her distorted body image by going under the knife.  <em><strong>OK Magazine</strong></em> recently did a cover story titled “Boob Jobs, Botox, and Lipo” that reported on the various surgeries done by over 25 celebrities.  And while some of these reported surgeries may have been done for legitimate medical reasons (i.e., repairing damage done from a broken nose that led to restricted breathing), the great majority of these procedures were on stars apparently having purely elective surgeries in an effort to improve their already very nice faces and bodies.</p>
<p>Amongst the celebrities noted in the above-mentioned story was actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who has acknowledged resorting to liposuction and Botox in the past.  Curtis, who perhaps enjoys the wisdom that only comes with age and experience, also appeared in a recent issue of  <strong><em>More</em></strong> magazine, which is specifically aimed at the “mature women” demographic.  In addressing her own experience with the aging process, and that of her equally famous actress mother (the late Janet Leigh), Curtis wrote with great clarity about the growing problem of modern women&#8217;s self-loathing:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>“Our dissatisfaction with what we look like has reached epidemic proportions.  Just look around you: people don’t look right.  Lips, eyes, hair weaves, implants.  It is a freak show being fed by the business it generates, a modern day surgical industrial complex.”</em></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>And there you have it – “<em>the business it generates</em>”.  Cosmetic surgeons make big money by feeding off the body image insecurities of women, and to an increasing extent, men as well.</p>
<div id="attachment_969" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-969" title="photoshopped ads" src="/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/photoshopped-ads1-300x200.jpg" alt="Recent ads for Ralph Lauren" width="300" height="200" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Recent ads for Ralph Lauren</p></div>
<p>But let’s not fool ourselves into thinking that the problem with the business of beauty is solely that of unscrupulous physicians willing to exploit the insecure.  All one need do is look at the world of advertising to see how the public is being sold unrealistic, unachievable ideals of beauty.  Ralph Lauren has come under fire in recent months due to the obvious retouching of photos in two ad campaigns that presented models as being grotesquely thin.  And recently, Ann Taylor has been caught doing the same thing.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, cosmetics companies continue to make billions by successfully convincing women that they need to change the way they look.  And the pharmaceutical company Allergan has gone so far as to (very successfully) market <a title="Latisse and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)" href="http://www.ocdla.com/blog/latisse-body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd-647">Latisse</a>, a drug originally designed for glaucoma, but now sold as a beauty aid because it has a side effect of increasing eyelash length.</p>
<p>Of course, we can’t blame business interests entirely for our attraction to products and services that we think will make us more beautiful.  It may simply be innate in humans to value beauty, and as such, to seek out these products and services.  As Camille Paglia has noted,  “We should not have to apologize for reveling in beauty. Beauty is an eternal human value”.  It may be that we are naturally invested in being beautiful, even if it requires surgery, drugs, or Photoshop.  But the question arises: At what point does our attraction to beauty become pathology?  At what point does our quest for beauty become an addiction?  At what point does our desire for beauty become a disorder?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>•T</em><em>om Corboy, MFT, is the director of the <a title="OCD Center of Los Angeles website" href="http://www.ocdla.com">OCD Center of Los Angeles</a>, a private, outpatient clinic specializing in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), and related conditions. He can be contacted <a title="Email the OCD Center of Los Angeles" href="mailto:director@ocdla.com">director@ocdla.com</a>.</em></p>
<address style="padding-left: 30px;">Heidi Montag photo courtesy of Kevin Perkins, PacificCoastNews.</address>
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		<title>Latisse and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)</title>
		<link>http://www.ocdla.com/blog/latisse-body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd-647</link>
		<comments>http://www.ocdla.com/blog/latisse-body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd-647#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:22:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>OCD Center of Los Angeles</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allergan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Body Image]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cosmetic Surgery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dermatology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eyelashes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Latisse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ocdla.com/blog/?p=647</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The drug Latisse is prescribed to lengthen eyelashes, but it has significant, under-reported side effects.  This raises two questions - is Latisse safe, and does its marketing exploit women's body image concerns?]]></description>
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<p>In late 2008, the drug <em>Lumigan</em>, originally developed to treat glaucoma, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be prescribed as an eyelash enhancer.  It seems that one of the side effects of the glaucoma drug, now called <em>Latisse</em> when marketed for eyelash enhancement, is eyelash growth.  According to a recent article in the <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/07/health/la-he-latisse7-2009dec07">Los Angeles Times</a>, <em>Latisse </em>is being prescribed by dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and day spa physicians to women who want to increase the length and fullness of their lashes.</p>
<p><em>Is this a good thing</em>?  One of the most common issues we see in our clients with <a href="http://www.ocdla.com/bodydysmorphicdisorder.html">Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)</a> is excessive focus on the appearance of their eyes, including their eyelashes.  <em>Latisse </em>plays right into this common BDD concern.<span id="more-647"></span></p>
<h3>Body Image Issues and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)</h3>
<p>A recent British study found that the average woman has negative thoughts about her body <a href="http://www.skininc.com/spabusiness/global/72563067.html"><em>36 times a day</em></a>.  While many might reasonably assume that other body parts (breast, lips, skin) are generally the focus of these thoughts, negative thinking about eyelashes is a fairly common body image issue for many women.  The huge market for eyeliners, mascara and other eye makeup products confirms how much attention many women already pay to their eye appearance. Marketing a drug that promotes eyelash growth reinforces the idea that women’s natural eyelashes are not good enough, and has the potential to lead to even more body image and BDD issues related to the appearance of the eyes.</p>
<h3>Risks of Latisse</h3>
<p>While discussing <em>Latisse</em>, it is important that we not overlook that this is a serious drug with potentially serious side-effects.  Among the reported side effects are:</p>
<ul>
<li>Redness      and irritation of the eyes</li>
<li>Eye      pain and itchiness</li>
<li>Bacterial      infections</li>
<li>Unwanted      hair growth near the application area</li>
<li>Darkening      of the eyelid skin around the application area</li>
<li>Change      in eye color, especially in those with brown eyes</li>
</ul>
<p>In fact, on September 10, 2009, the <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32892478">FDA reprimanded the drug’s manufacturer</a>, Allergan Inc. of Irvine, California, noting that the firm’s advertising failed to appropriately note the side effects noted above.</p>
<p><em>Are longer, fuller eyelashes worth these risks?</em> Apparently many women think so.  <em>Latisse </em>generated approximately $60 million in sales in 2009, and Allergan’s CEO reportedly expects the company to sell over $500 million of the drug in the next few years.  While there have been no studies investigating possible long-term consequences of using <em>Latisse</em>, that’s not stopping women from spending $120 a month to use it.</p>
<h3>Treatment for BDD and Body Image Concerns Related to Eyes</h3>
<p>While <em>Latisse </em>may provide a short-term benefit of enhanced lashes, the long-term outcome is a continuation of the belief that one’s natural lashes are not acceptable.  With each application of <em>Latisse</em>, a woman reinforces her belief that her lashes are not good enough…<em>that she is not good enough</em>.</p>
<p>A more effective solution to these types of body image and BDD issues would be for people to become more accepting of themselves, and to reject potentially dangerous drugs that chemically alter their bodies.  Four recent research studies have found that <a href="http://www.ocdla.com/cognitivebehavioraltherapy.html">Cognitive Behavioral Therapy</a> (CBT) is an effective means of addressing these types of body image and BDD concerns.  The cognitive component of CBT helps people learn to challenge the negative thoughts they have about themselves, while the behavioral component helps people change behaviors that reinforce that negative thinking.</p>
<p>While I may sound like a bit of a zealot on this issue, my main concern is that <em>Latisse </em>exploits the negative self image and BDD issues experienced by so many women.  Of course, <em>Latisse </em>is hardly the only product on the market that feeds into women&#8217;s body image issues.  But don&#8217;t we all deserve to go through life with a feeling of self-worth?  While <em>Latisse </em>and other products may provide hope of a quick fix for the negative thoughts people have about their bodies, it is only through acceptance of our bodies that we can truly feel good about ourselves in the long term.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>•Tom Corboy, MFT, is the director of the <a href="http://www.ocdla.com">OCD Center of Los Angeles,</a> a private, outpatient clinic specializing in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related conditions. He can be contacted <a href="mailto:director@ocdla.com">director@ocdla.com</a>.</em></p>
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		<title>Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Cosmetic Surgery</title>
		<link>http://www.ocdla.com/blog/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd-cosmetic-surgery-529</link>
		<comments>http://www.ocdla.com/blog/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd-cosmetic-surgery-529#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:54:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>OCD Center of Los Angeles</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bodies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cosmetic Surgery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael Jackson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Plastic Surgery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Susie Orbach]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ocdla.com/blog/?p=529</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many with Body Dysmorphic Disorder turn to cosmetic surgery in an attempt to alleviate their insecurities.  Unfortunately, there are plenty of cosmetic surgeons who are more than willing to cash in on those with this serious psychiatric condition.]]></description>
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<p>Recently, a friend suggested I read <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Bodies</span></em>, the most recent book by Susie Orbach.  I had not previously heard of this book, but even a casual reading of the synopsis on Amazon confirms what we see every day at the OCD Center of Los Angeles.  Between our clients with <a href="http://www.ocdla.com/bodydysmorphicdisorder.html">Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)</a>, and the thousands (millions?) of cosmetic procedures that are basically the norm here in Los Angeles, it is painfully obvious that many people not only dislike their bodies, but are willing to undergo painful, expensive surgeries in an effort to reduce their insecurities.<span id="more-529"></span></p>
<h3>BDD and Changing Cultural Views of Cosmetic Surgery</h3>
<p>While dissatisfaction with one&#8217;s body is fairly common (and probably has been throughout history), one significant cultural shift that has occurred in recent years is that many are now willing, and financially able, to have surgeries and other procedures that were very rare just a generation ago.  A mere 30 years ago, cosmetic procedures were uncommon &#8211; both the cost of the procedures and the cultural attitudes of the day were strong disincentives against having one’s appearance altered.  Now, parents give their teenaged daughters nose jobs for birthday presents, and housewives have botox parties. And while cosmetic procedures used to be an almost exclusively female phenomenon, more and more men are now having work done as well.</p>
<h3>Exploitation of Patients with BDD</h3>
<p>While the easiest culprit to blame for this cultural shift is &#8220;the media&#8221; (surgically enhanced celebrities, airbrushed models, etc.) there is also a significant financial aspect to this issue.  Not only are these procedures now less expensive, they are also being heavily marketed by big pharma.  And many cosmetic surgeons are not above providing &#8211; <em>and sometimes pushing</em> &#8211; procedures that their patients simply do not need.  We treated one man with Body Dysmorphic Disorder whose obsessions were with the appearance of his teeth and gums.  He had a dentist who performed multiple, very expensive, totally unnecessary, procedures on our client’s perfectly nice looking mouth.  I ultimately had to call his dentist and forcefully tell him he was harming our client and that he had to stop performing these unnecessary procedures.  We also treated a client with BDD who was scheduled to have one minor cosmetic procedure for a legitimate skin problem.  But on the morning of her surgery, as she lay on the gurney being prepped, her cosmetic surgeon talked her onto adding two additional (<em>very expensive, totally unnecessary</em>) procedures.</p>
<p>Finally, here is a personal story.  In 1990 I had to have a nose job.  Not a cosmetic nose job, but a long-delayed functional fixing of my nose which had been broken since high school.  The doctor with whom I initially consulted kept telling me that he could do a (<em>very expensive, totally unnecessary</em>) cosmetic nose job at the same time.  I repeatedly told him I had no interest in changing my appearance, but he kept revisiting the topic.  The message was very clear – my nose, which I had heretofore considered aesthetically just fine, was unacceptable and worthy of a (<em>very expensive, totally unnecessary</em>) surgery. I ultimately dropped him and elected to have my nose fixed by an MD who willing to do the required surgery without trying to increase his revenue at my expense.</p>
<h3>BDD and the Ethics of Cosmetic Surgery</h3>
<p>One of guiding principles of medical ethics is “first, do no harm”.  But, as we discussed in an <a href="http://www.ocdla.com/blog/ocd-anxiety-2009-review-501/#bdd">earlier posting</a>, two studies have found that cosmetic surgery in patients with Body Dysmorphic Disorder frequently results in <em><strong>increased</strong></em> BDD symptoms.  Studies have also found that these surgeries are <em><strong>less</strong></em> effective than Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in reducing the distress experienced by those with BDD.</p>
<p>Despite these findings, there is no shortage of unethical cosmetic surgeons, dentists, and other medical professionals quite willing to financially exploit the insecurities of people with Body Dysmorphic Disorder.  Perhaps the most egregious example of this is the case of the late <a href="http://www.ocdla.com/blog/michael-jackson-bdd-126">Michael Jackson</a>, who by all accounts appeared to have BDD.  Unfortunately, he was in the position of being able to afford numerous (<em>very expensive, totally unnecessary</em>) cosmetic procedures designed to alleviate his insecurities about his appearance.  The result was a face that, in the end, scarcely looked human.</p>
<p>It is time the issue of unethical cosmetic surgeons came under scrutiny by state medical boards and the media so that the public is protected from doctors willing to exploit those with BDD.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>•Tom Corboy, MFT, is the director of the <a href="http://www.ocdla.com">OCD Center of Los Angeles,</a> a private, outpatient clinic specializing in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related conditions.  He can be contacted <a href="mailto:director@ocdla.com">director@ocdla.com</a>.</em></p>
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		<title>Michael Jackson and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)</title>
		<link>http://www.ocdla.com/blog/michael-jackson-bdd-126</link>
		<comments>http://www.ocdla.com/blog/michael-jackson-bdd-126#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:13:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>OCD Center of Los Angeles</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anorexia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hypochondria / Health Anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Insomnia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael Jackson]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ocdla.com/blog/?p=126</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Follow @ocdla

Michael Jackson has died.  And predictably, reports of his various mental health issues have rapidly come to the fore.
Of course, anyone who has been paying attention knew that Jackson was troubled.  Over the past twenty-five years, his physical appearance radically changed.  The glaringly obvious alterations of his nose, chin, facial structure, and [...]]]></description>
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<p>Michael Jackson has died.  And predictably, reports of his various mental health issues have rapidly come to the fore.</p>
<p>Of course, anyone who has been paying attention knew that Jackson was troubled.  Over the past twenty-five years, his physical appearance radically changed.  The glaringly obvious alterations of his nose, chin, facial structure, and skin tone indicate that he had multiple cosmetic procedures, and suggest  that he suffered from a significant case of <a href="http://www.ocdla.com/bodydysmorphicdisorder.html">Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)</a>.  <span id="more-126"></span>Recent reports have also suggested that he experienced clinical <a href="http://www.ocdla.com/HYPOCHONDRIASIS.html">Hypochondria (health anxiety)</a>, as well as an eating disorder (possibly Anorexia).  There have also been reports of serious prescription drug problems, and severe insomnia that may have led to some of his alleged drug use.  All of these issues are of course in addition to the very public charges of child molestation that resulted in his earlier arrest, indictment, and subsequent acquittal on sex charges.</p>
<p>Perhaps the saddest part of this dreary tale is that this talented man appeared to become overwhelmed by his personal demons, and had the power and money to indulge those demons.  Like Elvis before him, Jackson was catapulted to fame at a young age, and appeared unable to handle its pressures.  And like Elvis, he appeared to have no shortage of people willing to accommodate and enable his various psychiatric issues.  When Jackson sought repeated cosmetic surgeries that ultimately disfigured him, he apparently had no difficulty finding surgeons willing to perform procedures that were arguably unethical.</p>
<p>The coming year will likely see an onslaught of tell-all books that provide details of Jackson’s psychiatric issues.  And while we’ll never know the full and accurate story, it seems safe to say that his most enduring legacy may be not just his music, but his psychiatric downfall.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>•Tom Corboy, MFT, is the director of the <a href="../../">OCD Center of Los Angeles</a>, a private, outpatient clinic specializing in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related conditions.  He can be contacted <a href="mailto:%20director@ocdla.com">director@ocdla.com</a>.</em></p>
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