According to statistics, about 1 billion people are now using social media websites worldwide. Lots of people are now involved with the latest trends like Facebook and Twitter. Experts today reveal that the fame of these social media sites can be the main reason why the number of plastic surgery patients is now increasing.In an interview, a plastic surgeon told Mashable.com, "People will come in and say, 'I saw myself in the mirror, but I didn't really notice it until I saw myself on Facebook or on my iPhone or iPad, When you look in the mirror you're seeing the mirror image of yourself. But when you see yourself on social media, you're seeing yourself the way the world sees you."
This fame has moved a lot of surgeons to call procedures influenced by social media as “Facebook facelifts”. That’s even if they don’t include a traditional facelift procedure. Experts are also saying that an increase in chin augmentation surgeries was also influenced by social media. According to American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery or ASAPS, 10% increase in the number of chin operations were done by their members in the past two years.
Triana Lavey, a 37 year old news producer from LA told ABC news that it was social media that moved here to undergo cosmetic procedures amounting to $15, 000. She says, "I have been self-conscious about my chin, and it's all stemming from these Facebook photos," Lavey told the news provider. "I think that social media has really changed so much about how we look at ourselves and judge ourselves. Ten years ago, I don't think I even noticed that I had a weak chin."
She also added, "Where my career is headed and the industry is headed, I have to be on social media." One prominent plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills Dr. Gary Motykie also said, ”This isn’t just a rumor, it’s the reality that these days, social media plays a huge role in people’s awareness with regards to plastic surgery. We just don’t know how far it will go. It has not done any bad result as far as I know…”
While the influence of social media has touched a lot of people to undergo these surgeries, it is important to still choose a licensed and boar-certified surgeon for safety.