Written by Isabel Williams, via SWNS
A new study says people are undergoing plastic surgery to copy filtered images of themselves on social media.
Researchers have found that people who use Snapchat and Instagram frequently are more likely to undergo plastic surgery.
And disturbingly, they report a phenomenon called “Snapchat dysmorphophobia,'' in which patients seeking cosmetic surgery attempt to create filtered and edited copies of themselves.
Social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram are pivotal in perpetuating a “selfie” culture with filters that can distort facial features in ways that can lead to dissatisfaction with reality. .
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology shows that time spent on social media and use of photo editing applications are correlated with a person's desire to undergo cosmetic procedures, leading to an increase in cosmetic surgery visits. It turns out that there is a high possibility that
Researchers at Boston University asked patients at a dermatology clinic to complete a survey from 2019 to 2021 about their social media usage and intentions to undergo cosmetic surgery.
After reviewing these studies, we found that the number of hours individuals spent using Snapchat and Instagram each day had a statistically significant impact on their belief that media and social media influenced their desire to have cosmetic procedures. It turns out that there is a difference.
Additionally, between using photo editing applications such as FaceTune, Lightroom, and SnapSeed to edit photos before sharing selfies on social media and thoughts about undergoing surgical or non-surgical cosmetic procedures. also found that there are significant differences.
Patients who follow and engage with celebrities and influencers on social media, as well as patients who follow and engage with plastic surgery, dermatology, and other accounts that show the results of cosmetic surgery procedures on social media, also receive plastic surgery. was greatly influenced by.
Neelam Vashi, associate professor at Boston Medical Center, said: “While there has been an increased focus on beauty during the coronavirus pandemic, so far there has been no clear association between patients being more or less likely to participate in cosmetic treatments. There is no data that highlights the causes and factors behind this.” ”
The research team hopes that the results of this study will encourage healthcare professionals to discuss social media use with patients to better understand patients' desire to undergo cosmetic procedures.
Dr. Vashi added, “Quality care begins with quality conversations, and this study will help health care providers ask about all aspects of their patients' lives and gain a deeper understanding of their patients' motivations and goals for care. I hope so,” he added.