In this day and age, the perfect selfie on Instagram can boost your confidence and self-esteem, for all of the wrong reasons. If you're not entirely happy with the lighting or angle of the photo, you can edit and filter them to make yourself look flawless.
Now that pursuit of flawlessness has gone to the extreme.
The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery conducted an annual poll to analyze trends in facial plastic surgery. The most recent results show that one in eight surgeons have found more "photo sharing" patients unhappy with their images on social media.
Social platforms like Instagram... 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.
The Academy's president, Edward Farrior said, "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."
"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," he continued.
Patients under 30 ask for "youthful face" cosmetic surgery that is usual either a face lift or a nose job—all for the sake of social media. Or they opt for the non-surgical route and get Botox injections and chemical peels.
The consequences of getting unnecessary surgery is far more dangerous and lasting than one bad selfie. There are ways to edit and filter out imperfections.
Hey, the option to delete a photo exists for a reason.
[via Cosmopolitan]
