#CHIPMUNK FACE FULL#

We therefore encourage all individuals to seek medical consultation before abruptly stopping eating disorder behaviors. However, this procedure is not without complications: scarring and nerve damage may occur, as well as facial paralysis.Ĭessation of bingeing and purging behaviors is not only emotionally taxing but there are often comorbid electrolyte deficiencies that require urgent or emergent medication intervention. In rare cases, individuals may require a surgical procedure to slim the face further, called a parotidectomy. Medications and other remedies may help to provide relief. However, they do not shrink immediately - so patience is key. Here’s the good news for individuals suffering from parotid gland enlargement: when you stop bingeing and purging, the parotid glands shrink back to their normal size over time. Whether these nervous system changes are brought about due to repeated bingeing episodes with large quantities of food, vomiting behaviors that increase saliva production, or some other unknown factor, is unclear. When this occurs, for whatever reason, the parotid grands hypertrophy, or increases in size, to allow for increased saliva and/or salivary protein production. The gland receives both sympathetic innervation (“fight or flight”) and parasympathetic innervation (“rest and digest”) which becomes dysregulated. The exact cause of parotid gland enlargement with bulimia remains unclear. Located on each cheek, just below the ear and above the jaw, the parotid gland’s primary job is to produce saliva to aid digestion and other bodily functions. The human body contains three salivary glands, including the parotid gland.

#CHIPMUNK FACE FULL#

In other instances, parotid gland enlargement persists for months or years following a full recovery from the eating disorder. In some cases, parotid gland enlargement subsides once the bulimia behaviors have stopped. When an individual who is already self-conscious about their appearance develops swollen cheeks, it can be highly emotionally distressing. The binge eating behaviors can trigger calorie restriction or purging behaviors, with vomiting contributing toward the development of sialadenosis. They may place a great deal of emphasis on their appearance, become fixated on body weight and may even suffer from body dysmorphic disorder. Individuals living with bulimia often suffer from frequent feelings of anxiety and low self-esteem. It is estimated between 10-66% of bulimia patients may develop parotid gland enlargement, depending on the number of daily self-induced vomiting episodes. Caused by the enlargement of the parotid glands (one of the salivary glands), the medical term for this phenomenon is sialadenosis. One of the telltale signs of bulimia is the appearance of swollen cheeks – colloquially known as “chipmunk cheeks” – on the sides of the face. “Chipmunk Cheeks”: A Common Sign of Bulimia Complications and their severity are highly dependent on the severity of the eating disorder and how long the behaviors have been occurring. Purging refers to episodes of self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative abuse and other methods intended as a means of weight loss.īulimia can lead to a number of distressing and damaging medical complications. Binge eating refers to eating a large amount of food in a short amount of time, often accompanied by strong feelings of guilt or shame. The primary behaviors associated with bulimia nervosa include binge eating and purging. Additional life-threatening medical complications may also be present and eating disorder treatment should be sought. The development of swollen cheeks with bulimia is a sign that an individual has been living with their eating disorder for quite some time. While most people with eating disorders put a great deal of effort into keeping their eating disorders secret, when a person with bulimia develops visible swelling on the sides of the face (often dubbed “chipmunk cheeks”), it is harder to keep the eating disorder private. Bulimia nervosa is a serious eating disorder that can leave devastating consequences in its wake.

Chipmunk face