It is not a secret that many celebrities undergo cosmetic surgery in order to keep their youthful appearance or change the way they look to fulfill a desired body image, but many have also fallen down the path of addiction to the procedures. Reid Ewing, a recurring cast member of "Modern Family" opened up about being in the latter's company, writing an essay for The Huffington Post about having body dismorphic disorder (BDD).
Though he expresses regret undergoing cosmetic surgery because of BDD, Ewing recounts how, as a teen, the only thing that mattered to him were his looks. By age 19, when he moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, he had his first surgery which involved getting cheek implants. "No one is allowed to be this ugly," was the thought that invaded his mind prior to surgery.
At age 20, he underwent his second surgery, a botched chin implant done by a less-qualified surgeon with two lawsuits. It wasn't until 2012, after he had already undergone numerous operations that never satisfied him, that he finally decided that he'd had enough and vowed not to have another surgery done. He laments how none of the doctors he approached had mental health screenings in place.
"None of the doctors suggested I consult a psychologist for what was clearly a psychological issue rather than a cosmetic one or warn me about the potential for addiction," he writes. He also says that he realized now that he was fine from the beginning and he never really needed any of the surgeries he underwent.
"Before seeking to change your face, you should question whether it is your mind that needs fixing," Ewing advises.
While some may attribute it to vanity, BDD is a serious mental health disorder that should be treated with therapy and/or medication.
"People who have body dysmorphic disorder think about their real or perceived flaws for hours each day. They can't control their negative thoughts and don't believe people who tell them that they look fine ... They may even undergo unnecessary plastic surgeries to correct perceived imperfections, never finding satisfaction with the results," the Anxiety and Depression Association of America explains in its website.
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