Americans seek plastic surgery to boost social media profile

By Becky Bargh | Published: 17-Feb-2020

Members of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reported meeting patients that want cosmetics procedures to look better on their social media channel

The number of US consumers seeking plastic surgery to look better in selfies has increased by 15% in 2019.

According to new American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery’s (AAFPRS) survey results, 72% of cosmetic surgeons reported seeing patients who wanted to go under the knife in order to look better in front of the camera.

Members also said clients were seeking cosmetic procedures due to dissatisfaction with their profile pictures on social media.

“Our annual statistics continue to show significant increases in the social media category,” said President of the AAFPRS Mary Lynn Moran.

“Clearly social media remains a huge incentive to have some work some with even more surgeons than last year reporting that patients are seeking cosmetic procedures to look better in selfies, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook Live and other social channels.”

Most popular procedures

The most common surgical procedures performed in 2019 by AAFPRS members include nose jobs, facelifts and blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery.

In addition, throughout 2019, 74% of facial plastic surgeons reported an increase in invasive procedures in patients under 30 including fillers, neurotoxins and skin treatments.

Overall, facial plastic surgery procedures increased by 6% in 2019.

Kardashian-Jenner effect

Image: via Instagram @kyliejenner

Image: via Instagram @kyliejenner

More than 80% of AAFPRS members agreed that celebrities impact patients’ appetite for cosmetic procedures.

Specifically, they said make-up billionaire Kylie Jenner and sister Kam Kardahsian are the celebrities who most influence cosmetic surgery requests among women, while Brad Pitt and Bradley Cooper were the most influential figures among men.

Last year, members expressed their concerns that social media apps may give consumers unrealistic expectations about the results of surgery, which could trigger body dysmorphic disorder.

You may also like