Are “Selfies” Behind the Surge in Facial Surgery?

This is the age of the “Selfy Generation.” Every day, millions of people of all ages document their every move with self-portraits taken on mobile phones, ipad’s, and other electronic devices. Are you one of them?

Unfortunately, when those pictures are uploaded to Facebook and other social media outlets, people don’t always like what they see. All of a sudden they notice their jowls, necks, and wrinkles.

It’s not just selfies. Services such as Skype, FaceTime, and other live talk features also give users a sometimes unwelcome up-close-and-personal look at themselves.

The result of this phenomenon, say surgeons, is an explosion of interest in facial enhancement surgery and non-surgical treatments. Between 2012 and 2013, surgeons performing cosmetic surgery observed

• 10% rise in nose jobs
• 7% rise in hair transplants
• 6% rise in eyelid surgery

Anti-wrinkle injections, fillers, laser treatments, not to mention neck and face and eyelid lifts are being requested by these ‘social’ individuals, many of them younger than traditional cosmetic surgery patients. Last year, 58% of surveyed facial plastic surgeons saw an increase in cosmetic surgery or injectables in those under age 30.

Survey Says – I Want to Look Better

Why are selfies so important? It’s because in today’s world they often serve as a critical first impression. This is especially true for young people who use the ‘net to connect with prospective friends, romantic interests, and employers.

A recent poll conducted by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery revealed that one in three surgeons reported seeing an increase in requests for facial procedures by “patients who wanted to look better online.”

“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,” – Dr. Edward Farrior, President, AAFPRS

Non-Surgical Treatments in Demand

A third of AAFPRS members surveyed reported a rise in the demand for non-surgical cosmetic procedures by patients in their 30’s looking to delay facial surgery. Patients are most concerned with cost, recovery, pain, scars, and, of course, results.

• Women under 35 are looking after their skin to postpone visible signs of ageing.
• Men under 35 are seeking rhinoplasty, neck liposuction, chin implants, and acne scar reduction procedures.

Almost three quarters of all procedures performed in 2013 were minimally invasive. Of these, cosmetic injectables accounted for about half of all minimally invasive treatments performed, followed by fillers and peels.

Asking for Procedures by Name

Thanks to the Internet, consumers are able to research different procedures. This growing knowledge is seen in the way patients ask for procedures. People are less likely to say, “I want to look like Nicole Kidman” or “I want eyes like Roxy Jacenko.” Instead, facial plastic surgeons report that more than half of their patients now ask for procedures to address a specific concern—crow’s feet, sagging neck, nasal “hump.”

I know the Internet is a valuable tool to research surgeons and obtain procedural information. However, I strongly urge anyone of any age to let the surgeon be your advisor and guide. A consultation with a board-certified surgeon who specialises in facial plastic surgery of the head, neck, and face is the best person to assess your candidacy and discuss your goals to ensure an optimal outcome.

So, go ahead and post your selfies with pride!

Want to know more about facial rejuvenation techniques that can make you selfie-ready? If so, please contact us to schedule an appointment at my practice. You may use email or the ‘book consultation’ feature of this website to make an appointment or contact us by phone at 1300 555 095.