Survey: Unflattering Selfies May Be Responsible For Increase In Cosmetic Procedures
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – If you've ever looked at a photo of yourself online and cringed, you might not be surprised by a new study that suggests "selfies" are contributing to an increase in the number of people seeking plastic surgery.
According to a study done by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), one in three plastic surgeons saw a rise in procedures from patients claiming to be unhappy with how they look on social media. Thirteen percent of doctors surveyed identified increased photo sharing and patients' dissatisfaction with their looks online as a "rising trend" in the cosmetic surgery industry.
Additionally, doctors cited a 10 percent increase in rhinoplasty in 2013 from 2012, a seven percent increase in hair transplants and a six percent increase in eyelid surgery.
What's even more disturbing, though, is that 58% of surgeons surveyed said they saw an increase in requests for cosmetic surgery and injectables in patients under the age of 30, with women looking to keep their skin looking younger longer and men seeking things like rhinoplasty, acne scar removal and chin implants.
"Social platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and the iPhone app Selfie.im, which are solely image based, force patients to hold a microscope up to their own image and often look at it with a more self-critical eye than ever before," said Edward Farrior, MD, President of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, in a release. "These images are often the first impressions young people put out there to prospective friends, romantic interests and employers and our patients want to put their best face forward."
Their best surgically-enhanced face forward, that is.
For more information on the study, click here.