Is Heidi Montag's Plastic Surgery Obsession Really a Mental Disorder?

By John Mitchell Posted May 6th 2010 12:01PM

Heidi Montag has revealed her desire to further augment her already much-altered body by increasing the size of her DDD breasts. Sources tell Life & Style magazine, "She wants to do it within the next two months and film it for the new TV show she and Spencer have been pitching to cable networks E! and Oxygen," adding that Montag is "purportedly looking to have the surgery done in Europe rather than by an American board-certified doctor."

Montag's obsession with plastic surgery was discussed at length after PEOPLE magazine revealed that the reality television starlet had undergone 10 procedures in a single day. However, her most recent statements have alarmed experts, who worry that the 23-year-old may suffer from an alarming condition known as Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). PopEater spoke with experts on the subject, and unfortunately for Heidi, they seem to agree that she's a potential BDD sufferer.

"Heidi obviously has major self-image problems, which need the care of a psychiatrist, not a plastic surgeon. Any plastic surgeon she goes to next should seriously consider referring her to psychiatric care instead of picking up the scalpel," says Dr. Anthony Youn, a Michigan-based, board-certified plastic surgeon who has been featured on 'Dr. 90210.'

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Heidi Snapshots

An enhanced version of Heidi Montag attends Liquid Pool at Aria at CityCenter on April 10 in Las Vegas. Click for More Pics >>

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Heidi and Spencer Snapshots

©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt leave the Alexa Chung Show at the MTV Studios in Mid Town Manhattan, where the promotional pair share a kiss... again. NON-EXCLUSIVE November 16, 2009 Job: 91117Z1 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Heidi Montag (L) and Spencer Pratt promote "How to be Famous" at Borders Books & Music, Columbus Circle on November 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Will Ragozzino/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Heidi Montag;Spencer Pratt

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt promote "How to be Famous" at Borders Books & Music, Columbus Circle on November 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Will Ragozzino/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Heidi Montag;Spencer Pratt

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Spencer Pratt promotes "How to be Famous" at Borders Books & Music, Columbus Circle on November 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Will Ragozzino/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Spencer Pratt

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"She appears to be a candidate for Body Dysmorphic Disorder, a psychiatric condition where the person sees their body in a completely unrealistic way," says Dr. Youn. "What we see as massive breasts, she sees as small breasts."

Dr. Roberto Olivardia, clinical instructor of psychology at Harvard Medical School and author of 'The Adonis Complex: How to Identify, Treat and Prevent Body Obsession in Men and Boys,' echoed Dr. Youn's concern for Montag to PopEater. "It is sad and absolutely appalling," he says. "I think she carries a lot of pain and is not aware of the future consequences of these drastic choices."

Individuals suffering from BDD become obsessed with perceived imperfections or "defects" in their physical appearance, which can lead to eating disorders or other extreme means of altering the appearance of the body. It is always accompanied by an extreme, often debilitating fear of judgment by others that can lead those afflicted with the condition to also suffer from severe depression and anxiety. Experts believe that while the causes of BDD vary from person to person, it most likely develops through a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors.

According to a study by Dr. James Feusner, psychiatrist at the University of California Los Angeles, persons with BDD exhibit abnormal brain function when looking at pictures of their own faces, leading experts to believe that they only see the face's parts individually, resulting in a distorted image. "If you just see the pieces of your face, and not how they fit into the whole, then it's going to look distorted," he told CNN. It's worth noting that Montag has also had multiple surgeries performed on her face, including rhinoplasty and a reported eye brow lift.

In his research, Dr. Feusner found that BDD patients had abnormal brain activity in their visual processing systems when looking at pictures of themselves. In addition, abnormal activation patterns were observed in the areas of the brain that guide behavior and emotions -- the frontostriatal systems -- which may explain the emotional toll BDD has on sufferers.

In fact, the brain patterns observed in BDD patients are not unlike those associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), however, BDD is most likely not a form of OCD, according to Dr. Feusner. Persons with OCD generally recognize their condition and understand that their behavior is extreme, while BDD patients are mostly unaware that they suffer from any condition at all.

According to Sabine Wilhelm, director of the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Clinic and Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, persons with BDD will often seek out plastic surgery to correct the flaws they believe they have; however, some 81 percent are dissatisfied with the results (via CNN).

Montag may be looking to go to Europe to get further surgery because U.S. manufacturers simply do not make produce implants large enough to meet her needs. "She reportedly has 700cc implants currently, and the U.S. implant manufacturers typically limit their implant size to 800cc," says Dr. Youn. "Therefore, if she would like to go significantly larger, let's say 1000cc or 1200cc, then she would need to have implants custom-made for her, see a surgeon outside the country where larger implants may be produced or have the surgeon place stacked implants into her breasts -- i.e. more than one implant per breast."

But further surgery is not the answer, according to Wilhelm -- a combination of cognitive behavior therapy and medication is often the most effective treatment for the condition. Of course, the only person qualified to diagnose Montag is a psychologist, and Dr. Olivardia agrees: "Obviously, I have never met her and do not know for sure if she has BDD, but she clearly has issues with her body image. I think she needs help and could benefit from therapy."

Tags: body dysmorphic disorder, Heidi Montag

Comments

(103)

Thursday 06 May

By Joel

Vote down Vote up Report this

Heidi, sorry you feel you need to make these changes in yourself. Hope I didn't contribute any to your decision.

By Ron

I am so proud of Heidi for getting bigger boobs. Big boobies are incredible! You really can't say enough about them. They are just so wonderful! I wish all women could afford to get bigger boobs. Spencer is a lucky guy to have a woman that wants to look pretty and sexy for him. I wish I had a girl like Heidi.

By gotta say

You are a shallow, unintelligent neanderthal. This girl is sick.

By Lou

She and her husband are suffering from lack of media coverage. Of course they haven't done anything worthy of media coverage so I guess this is the solution. I think real jobs and a real life would go a long way toward solving both their problems but I guess that's not going to happen. So, have the surgery, get sick and you will make the news. Okay if you don't want a long life.

By Sheri

if you are not happy with what GOD gave you; then your seriously a mental case

A mental Case

By pachanga

Heidi,women hate you because they can't be you. Men hate you because they can't have you. You keep augmenting honey and keep taking pictures,perferibly in Playboy. Thanks!

By MORON!

She's mentally deranged, that's for sure. She was a cute girl 4 years ago, with a nice face & a hot body; the epitome of a California girl. Now her face looks like that of a barbie doll that's been left out in the sun too long. And those tits; OMG, those are absolutely the nastiest looking bolt-on porno sized watermelons attached to her chest. I'm a horny hetero dude, and they're a total boner killer.

Oh yeah, she needs to have her head examined immediately, before she does something even more stupid...

By TyMarie

I think that the doctor who did her 10 surgeries should be arrested. It was not only dangerous, but he destroyed a beautiful girl and made her unrecognizable. She honestly needs to talk to a shrink and work on this, it's very sad that she feels the need to get bigger implants and that she needed to change so much.

Friday 07 May

By robert

i think that doctor whould get awards for his skill. what a great medical man!

By Ben from Baltimore

Just hanging out with Spencer would drive me crazy. Her mom is mad and upset over this. Her mom needs to get in between her and Spencer and say,"I don't care about what your short fused husband says, you need help pronto. Wanting all of this plastic surgery is not normal. You need to see a psychiatrist right away."

By Michelle

I feel really sorry for her. I think her psycho husband Spencer adds to her disorder. She should get some therapy because those surgeries cannot fix her inner issues. Dumping her whack husband who won't even talk to her own sister would be a good start in her therapy. I think Heidi is headed for physical, mental, and emotional disaster.

the surgery made her go from mediocre to a solid 20. what a gorgeous woman. the best looking woman in the world. all woman should go for it . wow shes hot

By help me

helpppppppppppppppppppppppppppp

Sunday 09 May

By scared for you

Heidi, You look like a caricature of a woman. You need to stop! Your face is really pretty but you're too skinny and the boobs look awful. Go back to a D and you'll look like the bombshell that you want to.

By shirleyA

I think she looks sexy and beautiful. I'm sick of
all the Hollywood vain, hypocrites, judging her and
others they think are below them including the media. I don't
care for Heidi nor do I really know that much about her
but hey, she did this because I quess it makes her feel
good about herself. What actor or actress hasen't or
will have some sort of plastic surgery? Maybe they
haven't had it done all at once but most of them are all guilty of plastic surgery, and besides, she paid for it not any of you
so why all the criticism?

By malia

she looks worse now then ever

if she "looks worse than ever" you must be the best looking woman in the world. i guess people who dont amire her beauty are just plain jelous of her super hottness

By strang

The story quoth:
"She appears to be a candidate for Body Dysmorphic Disorder."

a) She appears to be a candidate for a rotation on my peen.

b) She is an emotionally unstable, overpaid idiot who needs to be put over someones knee and spanked for the continued abuse that the American people are suffering through the actions of herself and her husband.

I'll volunteer for that one!

Monday 10 May

By tom shoats

Why dont she donate too hungry children around the world and quit trying to improve an already beautiful body.....

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