Sissy Spacek was David Cronenberg's first choice to play Rose. Ivan Reitman suggested Marilyn Chambers because he wanted sex appeal.
A keloid is a type of scar tissue formed from collagen, hence Dr. Keloid's name is a sort of pun.
The song that plays on the radio in Hart's workshop is Marilyn Chambers' own disco single "Benihana" (about 25 minutes into the film).
Producer Ivan Reitman felt that it would be easier to market the film in different territories if a well-known porn star portrayed the main character.
David Cronenberg states he had not seen Marilyn Chambers' most well-known film, Behind the Green Door (1972), prior to casting her.