Healthcare Radius – August 2019

HEALTHCARE RADIUS | AUGUST 2019 43

INSIGHT

life as they do online. It is a real phenom-
enon that is affecting demand for plastic
surgery, expectations, satisfaction, and over-
all happiness.
Image editing started with print magazines
where models have special lighting to look
their best, then later by having their photos
touched up electronically. Now, everyone
has access to image editing software al-
lowing them to change photos before they
post in social media. I have watched people
remove blemishes, make themselves taller,
and make themselves skinnier with imag-
ing software on their phones right before
my eyes. This creates unrealistic goal as it
becomes difficult to meet your followers
socially as you look different. Consumers are
now coming into plastic surgery offices ask-
ing to look like the images they see online,

not realising that those images likely have

been altered and do not reflect reality. An-

other reason to seek plastic surgery is that

stills can be edited but videos cant be edited

that easily.

Image manipulation has increased de-

mand for plastic surgery since more people

are seeing altered photos of others and

comparing them to photos of themselves.

Although you would think that is good for

business, it unfortunately creates unrealistic

goals for patients leading them to be disap-

pointed when their surgeon either informs

them that the result is unrealistic or pro-

vides them with a surgical result that does

not match the edited photo.

The way one looks online is considered to

be the first impression of one’s overall image

and personality. Young women mostly opt

for rhinoplasties or nose jobs, lip injections

or brow lifts, while young men prefer laser

treatments to remove unwanted hair and

scars and hair transplant. Women also go for

chemical peeling, botox and body contour-

ing to get those attractive looks. The people

coming for such treatment are in the age

group of 20-40 years and the majority of

them are in their late 20s or early 30s. This

treatment helps in having a more attrac-

tive and striking look from a social media

perspective.

1. Image
   manipulation has
   increased demand
   for plastic surgery
   since more people
   are seeing altered
   photos of others
   and comparing
   them to photos of
   themselves.


2. Social media is
   creating unrealistic
   goals for patients
   looking for plastic
   surgery..

Dr Anup Dhir is senior

consultant, cosmetic

surgery, Apollo Hospital,

New Delhi.

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