Apps that change appearance are extremely popular and lead in the ratings in terms of the number of downloads. Well, if you limit yourself to funny animal ears and a muzzle, send a couple of images to your friends and forget about this entertainment. But what if you like the improved version so much that you want to “keep it for yourself” not only in the photo on your phone, but also in reality?
The plastic surgery market in the country is rapidly growing and developing. And although there has been a slight decline in operational activity since the end of 2018, first due to the financial and economic situation, and then because of the pandemic, in general, the volume of cosmetic interventions in appearance continues to increase every year. According to the analytical center Vademecum, Russia is confidently in the top 15 countries in the world in terms of the number of aesthetic operations.
The pursuit of physical perfection has become an obsession for the XNUMXst century. Glossy magazines convince women of the need to meet the new standards of beauty, which are gradually becoming more and more unattainable. Television broadcasts are filled with luxurious women and athletic men, some TV shows openly advertise diverse cosmetic procedures and clinics. Social networks are focusing on impressive photos of chiseled faces and bodies. And it is difficult to resist such pressure not only for women, but also for men.
The problem is not only in the “contrast effect”, when a person compares his photos with images of models, beauty bloggers and celebrities. The problem is the frank popularization of the beauty industry under the sauce “you need to take care of yourself” and “follow fashion trends.” And if earlier it was not customary to talk about this, now discussions of cosmetic procedures, doctors and results, as well as live broadcasts from operating rooms, are as mundane as coffee and a sandwich for breakfast.
It is not surprising that psychologists have started talking about beauty addiction as one of the new types of addictive behavior, which consists in increased attention to one’s appearance and an irresistible desire to constantly improve it. Manifestations of this addiction: the desire for thinness, excessive use of cosmetics, passion for tanning, a constant desire to play sports and fitness, and the like. An artificial change in appearance gives a person the illusion that he corresponds to the “standard”.
The decision to carry out a cosmetic procedure is made on the basis of physical and psychological prerequisites. Psychologists have proven that the passion for visual social networks and phone applications with the function of appearance modeling often becomes a catalyst for the intention to get rid of appearance defects by surgery. What can be dangerous in the application from the “Games” section? Such online services and programs make it possible to realize the secret desires of users.
This is not only about standard photo editors and filters that help retouch minor imperfections like wrinkles, pimples and blue under the eyes, but about realistic plastic surgery simulators. The programs simulate the results of procedures such as rhinoplasty, facial reshaping, lip augmentation and liposuction. They can “stretch” the legs, make the waist thinner, and the chest more magnificent. In fact, this is a digital imitation of plastic surgery.
In many ways, a successful result will depend on the mood of the patient and the realistic goals that he sets for himself.
The study, conducted by American plastic surgeons Michael Reilly and Keon Parsa, involved 20 subjects aged 18 to 34 years. Young people first filled out a special questionnaire “Cosmetic Surgery Acceptance Scale” and then they were asked to use the Facetune2 app for one week. After using the app, subjects submitted their photos and completed the questionnaire again.
“We found that both men and women are more likely to consider plastic surgery if they use an app like this for just a week,” Dr. Reilly sums up. “Our work is the first published study to demonstrate a direct link between social media and intention to undergo cosmetic surgery.”
The predominantly visual nature of some apps has led users to focus on the physical appearance first. Pre-made filters that change skin tone, smooth out wrinkles and enhance the look of the face also add to the desire to look like these retouched images. Some patients even bring filtered selfies to surgeons to illustrate the desired changes.
Although the age of those who want to improve or have already improved their appearance is in a wide range from 18 to 50 years old, teenagers under 18 are also at risk. They are too susceptible to the influence of social networks and instant messengers. It’s like constantly looking at yourself in a mirror. Each step is recorded on a photo or video, the ubiquitous selfie has become a separate genre of photography. It is in photographs that people notice the imperfection of their own face and body, and this forces them to turn to beauty clinics. And if we add to this applications where beauty is evaluated on a 10-point scale and defects in appearance are noted?
When people compare themselves to those whose corrected images appear on social networks, they form a kind of fantasy image. The same effect can be achieved with heavily edited photos and filtered images. Users should be aware that changes that seem easy to their phones may not always be possible with surgery.
No one can unequivocally determine how beneficial plastic surgery will affect the psychological state of a person. In many ways, success will depend on the patient’s mood and the realistic goals that he sets for himself. And it is especially important to be aware that surgery can cause complications.