Managing director of the BDD Foundation Kitty Newman offers strategies for the identification and management of BDD
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition characterised by obsessive thoughts about very minor or unnoticeable ‘flaws’. It leads to repetitive behaviours such as mirror checking, reassurance seeking, excessive grooming, intrusive thought patterns, or seeking unnecessary aesthetic or cosmetic interventions.
It can lead to avoidance of daily activities and functional impairment, severe levels of psychological distress, isolation and withdrawal. Common areas of fixation include features of the face, such as the skin, nose, eyes, teeth, chin and hair, although concerns can be about any body part.1 Given the common areas of concern, knowledge of the condition is particularly relevant within medical aesthetic treatment.
This article will explore how medical aesthetic practitioners can identify and support patients with BDD while ensuring ethical and appropriate care.
Addressing BDD in aesthetics
