According to new research from the US, patients are seeking facial rejuvenation procedures, such as facelift surgery, to look better on social media. Picture-led apps such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat are reportedly being cited by patients as a top reason for undergoing facial rejuvenation surgery.
The apps, which focus heavily on the user uploading photographs to public domains, are more popular than ever leading to cosmetic professionals to suggest the rise in facelift surgery and non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments is linked.
As well as the often-documented link to ‘selfies’ and facial procedures, millennials are now apparently seeking facial rejuvenation surgery – such as facelifts and rhinoplasty procedures – after finding more and more images of themselves online. The American surgeon, Dr Paul Nassif, commented on the connection between social media and cosmetic surgery for patients of the millennial generation in a new article this week.
“Social media has become a major part of life for many people today, and this is especially true for millennials. Increased time spent on social networking sites means that millennials are frequently exposed not only to pictures of themselves and others but also to popular and personal opinions,” Dr Nassif explained.
While these factors boost interest in getting facelift surgery and skin rejuvenation treatments, they also can affect expectations about what cosmetic surgery procedures can do. Social media is increasingly more popular with people in their thirties and upwards now too, leaving patients constantly seeing photographs of themselves alongside others on social media sites. This is turn leads to comparisons, and as photos are taken by others from unflattering angles, features that people might prefer to ignore are highlighted.
Faced with constant comparisons between images of themselves and others, many millennials seek cosmetic facial surgery to correct flaws that they observe. Whether it’s a facelift or Botox injections, as surgeons and cosmetic doctors we must be prepared to turn patients away who may not require any treatment. Patients often explain that hurtful comments posted on these social media sites can make them feel pressured to change their appearance using surgery; whether that be a facelift or anti-ageing injections.
However, not every patient is a candidate for facial rejuvenation procedures, and it’s unwise to undergo cosmetic surgery for anyone else’s benefit. The increased interest in cosmetic procedures, such as facelift surgery, requires plastic surgeons to be even more thorough when they discuss motivations and expectations with prospective patients.