According to a leading plastic surgeon in New York, “We’re having this ‘Alice In Wonderland’ moment in history where someone can use a Snapchat filter and immediately become some alternative version of themselves.” He goes on to describe that just a decade ago women would bring in a copy of Playboy or other magazines to show what kinds of changes they were thinking about. But now, women enter plastic surgeon’s offices telling doctors exactly what they want and how they want it done, all while swiping through photos on their iPhone.
In some cases, they show celebrities or Instagram-famous women. But in most photos, they are showing pictures of themselves … filtered social media versions of themselves.
In fact, new research on addiction and our brain’s reward system indicates that “likes” and approval from others on social media is at a fever pitch. Even being compared to addictions we more commonly think of such as drugs and alcohol.
Thus, women are wanting more and more to look like the social media validated depiction of themselves. According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 2014, “One in three facial plastic
surgeons surveyed saw an increase in
requests for procedures due to
patients being more self-aware of
looks in social media.” A follow-up
study contends that a noticeable
uptick in “self-awareness,”
inspired by selfies in the
under-30 age group, is
contributing significantly to
year over year increases in
young women seeking
surgery.
OPERATING UNDER NEW NORMS
As plastic surgery has evolved, so too has social media. To the point that those going under the knife are not only demanding that they be made to look like a photo-shopped image, but also sharing their operating room experiences – in real time – with their social media followers. Snapchatting procedures has become common, along with bartering medical services for giving doctors media attention.
This new foray into social media and selfie surgery has been complicated for those in the medical field. For example, plastic surgeons are having to figure out new ways to help women understand the differences between what a filter can do and what a scalpel can do. Further, entirely new guidelines are having to be set for those working in the industry. One surgeon with more than 30 years in plastics claims that he has, “worked far too hard and been too cautious about career decisions to be comfortable with the kinds of offers and demands coming from many patients.” While his group says their goal is to take care of patients, they worry that other doctors have ulterior, selfish motives, which can be seen in advertising.