Body Dysmorphic Disorder Support - Camali Clinic

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About Service

Making Lives Better

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a condition in which a young person becomes preoccupied with a perceived flaw or defect in their physical appearance that others cannot see or consider minor. This preoccupation causes significant distress and leads to repetitive behaviours aimed at checking, concealing, or correcting the perceived flaw. BDD most commonly emerges in adolescence and can severely impact school attendance, social relationships, and emotional wellbeing. At Camali Clinic, our team provides specialist psychological support for young people and their families.

Who Needs It

Adolescents who spend excessive time preoccupied with one or more aspects of their physical appearance, and whose daily functioning – including attendance at school or social activities – is significantly disrupted by this preoccupation.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Support

1. Symptoms may include

  • Persistent preoccupation with a perceived flaw in appearance (e.g. skin, nose, hair, weight, symmetry) that others do not notice or consider minor
  • Repetitive behaviours in response to the preoccupation – e.g. mirror checking, excessive grooming, skin picking, comparing appearance with others
  • Seeking repeated reassurance from others about their appearance
  • Camouflaging – using make-up, clothing, or posture to hide the perceived flaw
  • Avoidance of social situations, school, or photographs due to appearance concerns
  • Significant distress and time lost to appearance-related thoughts and behaviours (often several hours per day)
  • May seek cosmetic procedures or treatments believing they will resolve the problem
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) specifically adapted for BDD – the gold-standard treatment, helping the young person challenge distorted appearance-related beliefs and reduce avoidance
  • Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) – gradual exposure to feared appearance-related situations while reducing compulsive checking or concealment behaviours
  • Perceptual retraining – techniques to help the young person shift their attentional focus away from perceived flaws
  • Family involvement and psychoeducation – helping parents understand BDD and respond in ways that do not inadvertently reinforce avoidance or reassurance-seeking
  • Psychiatry consultation where medication (typically SSRIs) may be recommended alongside therapy

Our Team

We are here to guide you

Meet the specialists who bring compassion, knowledge, and experience to every aspect of care.

Dr Mahshid Bayat

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Akbar Shourestan

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Sreevidhya K. Srinivas

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Emmanuelle Massad

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Dr Fadi Maalouf

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Dr Girish Banwari

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Dr Kusay Moosa Hadi

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Step-by-Step Support

How we provide the service

Learn how our structured, personalized process guides each individual through assessment, planning, and tailored support to achieve meaningful results.
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01
Specialist Assessment
A comprehensive psychological assessment to understand the extent of BDD symptoms, their impact on daily functioning, and any co-occurring conditions such as depression, OCD, or eating disorders.
02
CBT-Based Treatment
A structured programme of CBT and ERP is delivered, tailored to the young person's specific preoccupations, compulsions, and avoidance patterns.
03
Combined Care Where Indicated
Where medication is clinically appropriate, our psychiatry team works in parallel with the therapy team to provide integrated outpatient care.

Specific FAQs

1.

Is BDD the same as low self-esteem about appearance?

No. BDD involves a specific, clinically significant preoccupation that causes significant distress and disrupts daily functioning – it goes beyond typical self-consciousness about appearance.

Research consistently shows that cosmetic procedures do not resolve BDD and can worsen the condition. Psychological treatment is the appropriate and effective intervention.