The term “Snapchat dysmorphia” is a little deceiving. Two BU plastic surgeons, writing in a JAMA plastic surgery journal, say: A new phenomenon, dubbed “Snapchat dysmorphia,” has patients seeking out cosmetic surgery to look like filtered versions of themselves instead, with fuller lips, bigger eyes, or a thinner nose.7 This is an alarming trend because those filtered selfies often present an unattainable look and are blurring the line of reality and fantasy for these patients.
They report on this survey:
Current data show that 55% of surgeons report seeing patients who request surgery to improve their appearance in selfies, up from 42% in 2015. The survey also noted an increase in the number of patients sharing their surgical process and results on social media In addition, excessive scrutiny of selfies is also changing the presenting concerns of patients. Prior to the popularity of selfies, the most common complaint from those seeking rhinoplasty was the hump of the dorsum of the nose. Today, nasal and facial asymmetry is the more common presenting concern. Along with rhinoplasties, hair transplants and eyelid surgical procedures are also popular requests to improve selfie appearance.
Washington Post has a nice video on the topic.
Boston Health News 