Phreshly Squeezed

While many are getting a good laugh out of the overstretched fifteen minutes of fame that Heidi Montag is commanding from the gossip hungry folk, one also cannot help but wonder if the attention given to her is only fueling a bigger problem. Some may be quick to ask what kind of example is she setting for those that watch the show; however, I wonder if the attention that her latest project (i.e. “self improvement”) is, in actual fact, magnifying a possible problem of her own. Mentioned in several blogs in January when Heidi gave an exclusive interview to People Magazine, the question of Heidi suffering from BDD (body dysmorphic disorder) has surfaced but has also been quickly buried with the anticipated Hills season premiere. The shift on Heidi has quickly gone to that of the reactions of family members and friends as the new Heidi is unveiled.

Body dysmorphic disorder is a condition affecting 1-2% of the US population. The psychological disorder affects a person by excessive concern and preoccupation by a perceived defect in his or her physical features. The result can lead to a diminished quality of life, in addition to depression and chronic social anxiety. Sometimes extreme measures are taken to correct the perceived defectiveness, which may include plastic surgery to achieve a more desired physical appearance. What comes off as even more astonishing is the fact that of the population that does seek plastic surgery, approximately 10% are suffering from BDD. Given that fact, the ten cosmetic procedures in a day does sound incredibly drastic, no? Especially considering that this is Heidi’s second time going under the knife in five years (she previously had a breast augmentation). Well, one of the few persons who seem to believe that Heidi’s decisions were sound is none other than her surgeon, Dr. Frank Ryan. According to an interview with People Magazine, he dismisses the possibility of Heidi suffering from BDD asserts that she does not fit the symptoms of someone suffering from such. Let’s review the criteria for BDD, shall we?

According to DSM IV, the criteria for BDD is met by the following:

• Preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in appearance. If a slight physical anomaly is present, the person’s concern is markedly excessive.
• The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
• The preoccupation is not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g., dissatisfaction with body shape and size in Anorexia Nervosa).

And while Heidi seemingly exhibits the above characteristics, context must be applied to her situation to strengthen the argument that Heidi is indeed suffering from body image problems, and perhaps more specifically BDD. Heidi has often been noted as being dissatisfied with her body and is heard stating that living in Los Angeles and its accompanying lifestyle has only fueled the body dissatisfaction. And while we must be reminded that The Hills is simply a television show, her ability to function in society as a productive member seems to be hindered until she is seen with her modified body (which appears to bring a boost to her career – she’s even producing a television show now!) But on a more serious note, it seems that her preoccupation with her body image has led to unrealistic expectations of wanting to “look like Barbie.”

The number of surgeries seem to play a big part in the opinions of many people; however, as plastic surgeon Matthew Schulman points out, the procedures weren’t overly complicated ones that were performed. Albeit, she mentioned that she almost died from surgery – really, it was the amount of Demerol that she had been taking, which almost caused her to die and not the surgeries themselves. Her being a healthy candidate also contributed to the number of procedures that she could undergo. Where the surgeries went wrong, though, is not the number, but rather, the amount of change produced. The goal of plastic surgery is to enhance certain features or to “better” them, as opposed to producing a new person.

The consequences of Heidi’s plastic surgeries can not yet been known on a physical level; however, the mental state is clear. She cannot be in her right mind to think that her current outward appearance is what would be deemed as “pretty.” The results of her procedures seem to provide an exaggeration of every ideal part that Western culture portrays, and creates more of a caricature of beauty than anything else.

The well-known before and after two-page spread of Heidi Montag pre- and post-plastic surgery

Image courtesy of Huffington Post

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1. February 21st to 27th: National Eating Disorder Awareness Week