About Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Key Highlights
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Non-invasive, evidence-based psychological treatment with no physical side effects.Focuses on the root cognitive and behavioral patterns maintaining the disorder.Empowers patients with long-term coping skills and strategies for relapse prevention.Can significantly reduce distress, anxiety, and depression associated with BDD.Improves overall quality of life, social functioning, and self-esteem.Treatment is highly personalized and collaborative between the psychologist and patient./ul
Who is this surgery for?
- Persistent and intrusive preoccupation with one or more perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance that are not observable or appear slight to others.
- Performance of repetitive behaviors (e.g., mirror checking, excessive grooming, skin picking, seeking reassurance) or mental acts (e.g., comparing appearance to others) in response to the appearance concerns.
- The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
- The appearance concerns are not better explained by concerns with body fat or weight in an individual with an eating disorder.
- Significant avoidance of social situations, work, or other activities due to appearance-related anxiety.
How to prepare
- Initial consultation for a comprehensive psychological assessment and diagnosis.
- Completion of standardized questionnaires to assess BDD symptom severity.
- Discussion of treatment goals, expectations, and commitment to the therapy process.
- May involve gathering information from family members (with patient consent) to understand the impact of symptoms.
- No physical or medical preparation is required, as this is a talk-based therapy.
Risks & possible complications
- Temporary increase in anxiety or distress when initially confronting avoided thoughts and situations (part of the therapeutic process).
- Potential for frustration or discouragement if progress feels slow.
- Risk of relapse if coping strategies are not maintained after therapy concludes.
- Therapy requires active participation; lack of engagement can limit effectiveness.
- Not a quick fix; requires a significant time commitment over weeks or months.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Recovery is a gradual process of psychological change, not a post-surgical recovery.
- Involves regular attendance at therapy sessions (typically weekly).
- Practice of skills and exercises ("homework") between sessions is crucial for progress.
- Gradual reduction in symptom frequency and intensity over time.
- Development of a long-term maintenance plan to sustain gains and prevent relapse after active therapy ends.
- Follow-up or "booster" sessions may be recommended periodically.
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Typical hospital stay: Not applicable
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Expected recovery time: Varies (ongoing process)
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering body dysmorphic disorder in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Top-rated hospitals in India with psychology departments and experienced surgeons are ideal for this procedure. Use MediFyr to compare facilities, reviews, and doctor profiles before you decide.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform body dysmorphic disorder. MediFyr helps you compare psychologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for body dysmorphic disorder compare across other countries where we have data.
Emily Khan is a 28-year-old freelance...
Emily Khan is a 28-year-old freelance graphic designer. She grew up in a family that placed high value on academic achievement, and she often felt her appearance was overlooked. For the last seven years, Emily has been preoccupied with the shape and size of her nose, believing it to be 'crooked' and 'bulbous.' She spends hours each day checking her reflection, applying makeup to contour her nose, and researching rhinoplasty surgeons online. She has canceled client meetings and social events due to feeling 'too hideous to be seen.' Her primary care doctor, noting her distress and the absence of any noticeable deformity, referred her to Dr. Evans, a psychologist specializing in Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Dr. Evans recommended a course of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) specifically tailored for BDD, which would involve exposure and response prevention (ERP) to reduce mirror-checking and avoidance, and cognitive restructuring to challenge her distorted beliefs about her appearance. Emily was initially skeptical, fearing therapy was just a way to tell her she was 'vain.' However, she gradually engaged in the challenging work of ERP, starting with short trips out without contouring her nose. In therapy, she explored the link between her self-worth and her appearance. Post-treatment, Emily still has occasional negative thoughts about her nose, but they are no longer all-consuming. She has returned to a full social and work life, and while she may consider cosmetic surgery in the future, it is no longer an urgent compulsion. Emotionally, she moved from a state of constant shame and isolation to one of self-compassion and acceptance, realizing her worth extends far beyond her reflection.
Psychologists for Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Explore experienced psychologists who regularly perform body dysmorphic disorder and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 10 Years Experience
- Psychologist
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Kolkata
- 10 Years Experience
- Psychologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 16 Years Experience
- Psychologist
Manipal Hospital Gurgaon, Gurgaon
- 10 Years Experience
- Psychologist
- 30 Years Experience
- Psychologist
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, Kolkata
- 14 Years Experience
- Psychologist
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, Kolkata
- Years Experience
- Psychologist