Let’s Take a Selfie: How Social Media is Changing Cosmetic Surgery
This past year could be called the year of the selfie, as the social media trend evolved into a worldwide phenomenon. Selfies even inspired a hit dance tune and an ABC network television comedy simply called Selfie.
Not only have selfies tremendously affected our culture and daily lives, they are also changing cosmetic surgery. It all boils down to this simple fact: selfies and social media in general have caused people to become more focused on their looks and appearance.
Because people are being bombarded with images of themselves on a daily basis thanks to social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn, it has become easier to identify and analyze the imperfections and flaws in their facial features. As a result of the obsession over selfies, we have seen new patients increase by 15 percent.
One way selfies have changed the industry is that we are seeing more patients of younger ages seeking ways to beautify and improve their appearances. Since appearance is key in such social media platforms as Snapchat and Instagram, these young patients are looking to raise their profiles.
Another way selfies are changing cosmetic surgery is patients are coming into our office with a more definite idea of what improvements and changes they would like made to their appearance. We have even had some patients manipulate their facial features using popular smartphone apps to show us images of exactly what they would like to look like.
So many people today are constantly trying to reinvent themselves. During the recession, it was those who lost their jobs coming to us to help them invest in their appearance. Now, we are seeing people going through tough divorces who can see firsthand their aging through selfies and other social media sites. They realize they have to reinvent their looks as they begin again in seeking new relationships. So often, those that undergo cosmetic surgeries in our office see that investment pay off as many of them have found their significant other on various dating websites.
The bottom line is the obsession with selfies and social media is here to stay and will likely grow even further in popularity. If you’re considering cosmetic surgery or non-surgical treatments, contact our office today to schedule your consultation!
