Skip to main content

Selfie trend pushing demand for plastic surgery, survey claims

the worst type of selfies you can post selfie
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Have you ever taken a selfie, looked at it, decided your nose looked massive and promptly booked an appointment with your local plastic surgeon? Probably not, though according to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), the selfie trend is causing an increasing number of people to undertake face-related plastic surgery.

Results from a recent study conducted by the AAFPRS found that one in three plastic surgeons have seen an increase in the number of people requesting alterations to their face “due to patients being more self-aware of looks in social media.”

The study found that 2013 saw a 10 percent jump in nose-related procedures on the previous year, a 7 percent increase in hair transplants, and a 6 percent rise in eyelid surgery.

Self-critical

“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,” claimed Edward Farrior, MD and president of the AAFPRS. “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.”

Bullying was also reported to be a factor in prompting people to undertake plastic surgery, though most surgeons questioned in the study said children and teens tend to undergo procedures “as a result of being bullied (69 percent) rather than to prevent being bullied (31 percent).”

Fifty-eight percent of the plastic surgeons questioned in the study said that in 2013 they saw an increase in cosmetic surgery or injectables in people aged 30 or below.

Women accounted for the majority (81 percent) of face-based surgical procedures last year, with much of the work focusing on “preserving their youthful appearance with a facelift and eye lift as well as having a well-proportioned, attractive nose,” while men were more worried about wrinkles and having a full head of hair.

The annual survey involves a select group of the AAFPRS’s 2,700 members and aims to discover the latest trends in face-related plastic surgery.

Not just selfies

Last year the same study pointed to video-chat software as the reason for the uptick in people seeking procedures.

“Skype, FaceTime, and other live talk features on digital devices have led to more consultations and procedures,” Dr. Malcolm Z. Roth, former President of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, said at the time. “People are noticing their jowls, necks, and wrinkles. Neurotoxins, fillers, laser procedures as well as neck and face lifts and eyelid tucks are being requested by these ‘social’ individuals.”

With the proliferation of camera-equipped smartphones and the rise in popularity of photo-sharing apps like Instagram, selfies have taken off big time in the last year or so, with the AAFPRS consequently highlighting it as an additional factor in prompting people to change their looks.

Do you think the AAFPRS is on to something here? Sound off in the comments below.

[Image: Bevan Goldswain / Shutterstock]

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Don’t buy this new Motorola phone — get this other one instead
Renders of the Moto G 5G (2024) and Moto G Power 5G (2024).

the Moto G 5G (left) and Moto G Power 5G Digital Trends

Budget phones can slip under the radar when shiny, powerful flagships launch. But if you're in the market for a smartphone that gets the job done and won't blow a four-figure hole in your bank balance, then a great budget smartphone is the way to go.

Read more
Get 32% off the cellular model of the iPad Pro 12.9 this weekend
The iPad Pro on a desk next to a stylus and AirPods.

If you've been thinking about getting the iPad Pro with cellular connectivity but you've been hoping to buy the tablet from iPad deals for a discount, this may be what you've been waiting for -- a 32% discount from Amazon's Woot on the 12.9-inch, Wi-Fi + Cellular model of the 2021 Apple iPad Pro with 128GB of storage. From $1,199, it's down to just $810, which is a steal price for this device with savings of $389. However, while there are still several days left on this offer, it's highly recommended that you proceed with the purchase immediately because there's a chance that stocks don't last that long.

Why you should buy the 2021 Apple iPad Pro 12.9
It's not the latest version of Apple's top-of-the-line tablet -- the honor goes to the 2022 Apple iPad Pro -- but the 2021 Apple iPad Pro is still a pretty powerful device by today's standards. That's because it's equipped with Apple's M1 chip, which promises fantastic speed and excellent graphics when you're working on your multimedia projects, multitasking between several apps, or playing console-level games. With its 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR touchscreen, you'll enjoy high-brightness and high-contrast content, and its mini-LED display provides deeper black levels and more vibrant colors.

Read more
Samsung Galaxy A55 vs. A54: all the big changes, explained
Renders of the Samsung Galaxy A55 next to the Galaxy A54.

Galaxy A55 (left) and Galaxy A54 Digital Trends

Samsung has been on a roll with new phone releases in 2024. At the end of January, Samsung released the flagship Galaxy S24 lineup. It's fantastic, but not everyone can afford the latest and greatest flagship. Thankfully, Samsung also makes budget-friendly alternatives, and that’s the appeal of the new Galaxy A55.

Read more