Someone with a Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is preoccupied with an imagined defect in appearance. If there is a slight anomaly, the response is excessive: the body image is distorted.
Characteristic of BDD is an obsession with a certain physical characteristic or an exaggerated concern about a minimal defect. They constantly worry about their nose being too big or smelling bad. The distress normally starts during the middle teen years.
Most people worry about these kinds of things once in a while, but someone with BDD thinks about it at least an hour a day. They cannot think of anything else, are constantly looking in the mirror or avoiding mirrors altogether and try to think of ways to cover up.
About 1-2% of the people suffer from BDD. They often avoid social contacts, being afraid of ridicule. It can cause severe depression.
If you think you are developing such a disorder seek help. It’s very difficult to solve this problem by yourself. Plastic surgery seldom brings relief. On the contrary, it often leads to a worsening of the symptoms.