Actor Reid Ewing Reveals Lifelong Body Dysmorphia Struggle

American TV and movie actor Reid Ewing has revealed that he has struggled with body dysmorphic disorder his entire life, and has detailed the horrifying consequences of his former addiction to plastic surgery.

The 27 year old actor, most famous for his recurring role in ABC’s ‘Modern Family’ as Dylan, revealed in a blog for the Huffington Post that he first approached a plastic surgeon in 2008 just after he had moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career at the age of 19.

“I genuinely believed if I had one procedure I would suddenly look like Brad Pitt,” he wrote, saying that he used to analyse his face from every possible angle before concluding that he needed surgery. Electing to undergo a procedure for cheek implants without having done much research as to surgeons, his plan didn’t work and left him unsatisfied, and in a huge amount of pain.

“The lower half of my cheeks were as hollow as a corpse's,” he said. “I went back to the doctor several times in a frenzy, but he kept refusing to operate on me for another six months, saying I would eventually get used to the change. I couldn't let anyone see me like this, so I stayed in complete isolation.”

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This botched procedure led to a vicious spiral, as he sought further operations to correct the effects of the previous ones, and he admitted to himself by 2012 that he had to stop.

“Each procedure would cause a new problem that I would have to fix with another procedure,” he explained. “Anyone who has had a run-in with bad cosmetic surgery knows this is true.”

Ewing noted that at every initial consultation, he was never questioned as to any previous mental health issues he might have had, and urged readers that his was a cautionary tale that should be heeded before anybody undergoes such surgery.

“My history with eating disorders and the cases of obsessive compulsive disorder in my family never came up,” he said. “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.”

“Before seeking to change your face, you should question whether it is your mind that needs fixing,” he said. “It's a horrible hobby, and it will eat away at you until you have lost all self-esteem and joy. I wish I could go back and undo all the surgeries. Now I can see that I was fine to begin with and didn't need the surgeries after all."

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