According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the selfie trend is causing an increased number of individuals to seek out or undergo face-related plastic surgery procedures. A recent study done by the AAFPRS discovered that one in three plastic surgeons has seen an increase in the number of patients requesting some alteration to their face due to being more self-aware of their looks because of social media. The study found that in 2013 alone a 10% jump in nose-related procedures compared to 2012 and a 7% increase in hair transplants and 6% in eyelid surgery.
While many say that looking at a selfie hasn’t made them self-conscious, experts think otherwise. Edward Farrior, MD, and president of the AAFPRS believe that social media platforms such as Snap Chat, Selfie.im iPhone app and Instagram all are image-based and force these patients to hold a microscope up to their image and look at it in a more self-critical way than ever done before. He says that these images are often the first impressions that young people give to prospective mates, friends or employers, so they want to put their best face forward and are very critical of themselves.
The survey also found that bullying was reported to be a factor in encouraging many to undertake plastic surgery though many surgeons said that children or teens tend to have plastic surgery as a result of being bullied not to prevent being bullied. They also found that 58% of all plastic surgeons studied saw an increase in cosmetic surgery or injectables in those patients 30 years or younger. Women did 81% of all face-based surgical procedures in 2013, and most of the work was done to preserve the youthful look in the face, whether eye life, facelift or creating a well-proportioned or attractive nose. Men were more worried about having a full head of hair or wrinkles.
This annual survey is given to a select group of 2,700 members and looks for the latest trends in face-related plastic surgery in America.
Last year this same study pointed to video-chat products as the reason more people (especially women) were seeking out plastic surgery. Dr. Malcolm Z. Roth, former President of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, said that Skype, FaceTime, and other live talk programs have led to more consultations and even more procedures. He believes this is because people are noticing their necks, wrinkles or jowls more. They also want more fillers, neck or face lifts or eyelid tucks, especially on more social individuals.
Ultimately, with the continued proliferation of smartphones and the rise of photo-sharing apps, selfies have taken off and directly influenced society. The AAFPR continues to point their finger at these things as why more people more than ever are looking to change their looks and are more critical of how they look.