Plastic surgeons saw an increased demand for surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures in 2017, according to a survey by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
The number of procedures performed in 2017 reflects a 25 percent increase in procedures since 2012.
Nonsurgical procedures, including Botox, dermal fillers and fat grafting, made up over 80 percent of the total procedures performed last year.
The reason for the increase? According to AAFPRS, it’s social media.
Selfies and Social Media
According to the survey, 55 percent of facial plastic surgeons had patients say they were choosing to undergo their procedure to look better online. Another takeaway from the AAFPRS survey is that millennials shared 55 percent of selfies that appear online, but patients who are middle-aged and older also shared pictures of themselves on Facebook and Instagram.
“Everyone wants to look great in pictures, no matter what their age,” said Dr. Christy Walker.
Walker is a Plano, Texas, cosmetic surgeon who hears from her patients that they want procedures to look their best in pictures.
“Selfies make individuals look at themselves more than ever, and for some patients that means seeing a flaw or perceived flaw over and over again. Eventually, these patients want to correct the flaw,” Walker said.
Patients looking for cosmetic surgery to improve how they look in selfies tend to choose procedures that are minimally invasive with fast recovery times. These procedures include dermal fillers and Botox geared to erase the signs of aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines or sagging skin.
Other popular choices for facial procedures include lip injections or lip implants, neck rejuvenation, and Kybella, an injectable that helps to reduce the appearance of a double chin.
“Minimally invasive facial procedures are increasing in popularity because patients are often anxious to show off their new look,” Walker said.
Social Media Means More Access for Patients
Social media has also increased the demand for cosmetic surgery because patients are sharing not only before and after snapshots, but some are also sharing their information, pictures and even video of their procedures as they happen.
In 2017, Texas beauty blogger Ashley Devonna broadcast her breast surgery on Facebook Live. Mother-daughter duo Pamela and Brycen Blinco had several cosmetic surgery procedures done together as viewers watched and asked questions over the internet.
“Sharing pictures and procedures online spurs others to seek out physicians and spread more information about cosmetic procedures. The result is more patient education about procedures and less negativity or taboo about having work done,” Walker said.
Selfies May Also Improve Recovery
Patients who share selfies after their cosmetic surgery procedures may also heal faster and have better results than patients who don’t.
A 2017 study by the Department of Plastic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation showed that plastic surgery patients who sent selfies to their surgeons within the first few days after their procedures often had better recovery experiences.
The results of the study found that sending the selfies allowed cosmetic surgeons to check in on patients and monitor their healing.
Some of the study participants had complications that their doctors noticed in the selfies, which allowed doctors to provide necessary early interventions to protect both patient health and results.
Selfies in Summary
“There is no underestimating the impact of selfies and social media on cosmetic procedures,” Walker said.
AAFPRS agrees. The organization predicts that the higher number of facial procedures performed in 2017 combined with the growing selfie and social media culture means a higher demand for cosmetic procedures in 2018.
Other procedures in high demand include body procedures such as the Brazilian Butt-Lift and “mommy makeover” procedures, as well as the labiaplasty procedure and vaginal rejuvenation.
Sources:
Allure. Plastic Surgery Trends for 2018 Are Being Shaped by Social Media. Allure. 30 January 2018.
Allure. Taking Selfies Can Help Plastic Surgery Patients Heal, Study Finds. Allure. 19 July 2017.
