Introduction:
Social media has become vital to people's daily lives in the digital age. It has transformed the way of communicate, share information, and even one's perception. With the growth of social media platforms, individuals can now manage their online presence and show their strongest qualities to the public. On the other hand, this regular exposure to highly designed and often significantly modified photos has had a considerable impact on one's impression of beauty and, as a result, one's expectations too.
The types of procedures that have seen an increase in popularity demonstrate the influence of social media on plastic surgery. The "selfie craze" has increased the need for facial plastic surgery. These procedures are intended to enhance facial features and assist individuals in achieving their desired look, as seen on social media.
Non-surgical cosmetic therapies, in addition to surgical procedures, have grown in popularity. Botox, dermal fillers, and microneedling, for example, have short-term effects, faster recovery times, and are often less expensive. They are especially prominent among younger people who want instant solutions to improve their looks and obtain the "perfect" image on social media.
What Is the Relationship Between Social Media Editing Tools and Plastic Surgery?
With social media editing tools, people can improve their image in minutes. These editing tools were accessible only to professional models and media personalities but are now accessible to the general public. Using these editing tools, anyone can erase acne, blur expression lines, and even slim their profile with a few touches and swipes.
As a result, there is a presence of supposedly beautiful faces like those who are smooth-skinned, perpetually young, and ready for the catwalk on social media feeds. Though these photos are not genuine, frequent exposure to these artificially beautiful features can cause people to forget their actual faces. This phenomenon, known popularly as the "Instaface Effect," has had a tremendous impact on self-perception and plastic surgery.
How Does Social Media Influence Plastic Surgery?
Plastic surgery has always been linked to celebrity culture, with patients frequently seeking to look like their favorite celebrities. However, social media has taken its influence to a whole new level. An increasing number of patients consider plastic surgery to improve their appearance in selfies, and social media plays an important part in cosmetic surgery decision-making. The most important elements influencing plastic surgery via social media are as follows:
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Social Media Editing Tools: The availability of filters and editing capabilities on social media sites has made changing one's appearance easier. With a few taps and swipes, people may now adjust their nose profile, mimic lip fillers, and achieve a perfect complexion. Because of their widespread use on a routine basis, these filters have made it simpler for people to imagine how their appearance would look with particular changes, leading to a drive for plastic surgery.
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Remote Work: COVID-19 and subsequent lockdowns had a significant impact on life, including the use of social media. With minimal in-person interactions, social media became the main way to stay in touch. Long-term exposure to effectively edited photographs of friends, family, and influencers without access to reality, on the other hand, can distort the perspective of reality. It's easy to forget that the perfect faces on social media are only sometimes representative of real life.
This and the pandemic's stress and uncertainty drove many people to seek control and relief through plastic surgery. With the popularity of remote work and virtual meetings, people have become more self-aware. Individuals stared at their reflections on video conversations for the first time, often in unpleasant lighting and from unfavorable angles. Constant exposure to their image on displays worsened perceived imperfections and elevated self-consciousness. As a result, many people sought plastic surgery to address their concerns, such as rhinoplasties to alter the contour of their noses or eyelid procedures to make their eyes appear larger.
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Celebrity Influences: Cosmetic surgery was generally wrapped in secrecy in the past, with celebrities denying any use of plastic surgery. However, a new wave of acceptance has evolved, with many celebrities freely revealing their cosmetic augmentation experiences. More information and a sense of reality have been added due to this transparency. Celebrities have opened up about their experiences with breast augmentation and facial plastic surgery. This amount of transparency has made plastic surgery more relatable and less criticized, increasing its popularity even more.
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Body Image: While social media has its advantages, it can also hurt one's mental health, particularly regarding body image. Constant exposure to professionally developed photographs might cause inadequacy and dissatisfaction with one's looks. Comparing oneself to others, particularly those considered superior in terms of physical appeal, can damage one's self-esteem. Posting digitally improved images may initially boost self-evaluation, but it might hurt self-esteem in the future. This could be a result of the ongoing upward comparison between oneself and the digitally changed image, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and an improper perception of one's appearance.
How to Overcome These Negative Effects of Social Media on Plastic Surgery?
It is critical to overcome the negative effects of social media on plastic surgery by taking breaks from social media, considering technology's limitations, adopting imperfection, working on self-love and acceptance, taking inspiration from confident people, and seeking help from healthcare professionals, particularly for people suffering from body dysmorphic disorder, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders through cognitive behavioral therapy. Even if a successful procedure is done, changing one's facial appearance doesn't solve all life's challenges. It can surely assist with self-image, but being the same person with the same problems in life.
Conclusion:
Social media has tremendously influenced the views of beauty and has greatly impacted the plastic surgery field. Social media provides continual exposure to filtered images like edited and flawless faces, thereby increasing self-awareness and an obsession to achieve the same level of beauty. While social media can also have a negative impact on mental health and body image, it also provides opportunities for education, empowerment, and informed decision-making. People can build a more positive and realistic attitude toward plastic surgery and overall well-being by appropriately utilizing the power of social media.
