The procedure that didn't help

Specialist CBT therapy for anxiety, OCD, depression and more in West London

A procedure can carry a great deal of hope. Someone may believe that a change to one feature will finally allow them to stop thinking about it, feel comfortable in photographs, return to work, date again or simply leave the house without planning their appearance first. When the relief does not come, the disappointment can be painful and difficult to explain. That experience does not mean a procedure was inherently wrong, that a person has body dysmorphic disorder, or that their concern about appearance is imaginary. Procedures can be chosen for many personal, medical and practical reasons. Equally, ongoing distress can have many influences, including body image concerns, social anxiety, trauma, a difficult comment or relationship, a health change, an unsatisfactory clinical outcome, grief or a previous pattern of self criticism. A blog cannot diagnose BDD or decide what someone should do about a procedure. It may be useful to separate two questions that often become tangled. The first is medical or cosmetic: is there a physical change, complication, healing concern or symptom that needs review by the appropriate practitioner or healthcare professional? The second is psychological: how much space is the concern taking, what does the person fear it means, and what do they do to seek certainty or reduce distress? Repeated mirror checking, comparing photographs, researching further procedures, seeking reassurance, avoiding social situations or trying to find the perfect angle can all feel understandable. They do not prove a diagnosis. In an assessment, they may be explored as part of a broader pattern, with attention to the person’s history, physical health, consent, relationships and current circumstances. New, worsening or concerning symptoms after any procedure should be discussed with the relevant medical professional or urgent service. Pain, swelling, infection, breathing problems, visual change, chest symptoms, fainting, severe distress or concerns about safety should not be assumed to be anxiety or an appearance related worry. Psychological support may be useful for some people where assessment indicates it is appropriate. CBT does not aim to tell someone how they should feel about their appearance or make a medical decision for them. It can help explore the relationship between attention, fear, self criticism, checking, avoidance and the search for certainty. What is appropriate will depend on the individual, and may sit alongside medical care rather than replace it. Behavioural or exposure based work should not be self directed from an article. It is not an instruction to stop checking abruptly, remove camouflage, cancel a medical review or confront a situation that feels unsafe. If behavioural work is considered as part of therapy, it is planned collaboratively with a qualified clinician after assessment, informed consent and attention to medical advice and risk. If appearance distress is accompanied by not eating, purging, severe restriction, self harm thoughts, a crisis or an inability to keep yourself safe, seek urgent appropriate help. A person does not need to decide that their experience has a particular label before asking for support. For related information, see <a href="/therapy/body dysmorphic disorder/">CBT for body dysmorphic disorder</a>, <a href="/guides/body dysmorphic disorder cbt west london/">the BDD clinical guide</a> and <a href="/guides/mental health weight diet movement/">body image, weight and wellbeing</a>. The Lyceum Clinic offers assessment led CBT online and in West London.