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Is "Snapchat Dysmorphia" a Real Issue?
Kamleshun Ramphul1, Stephanie G Mejias2
1Department of Pediatrics, Shanghai Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Cureus
|May 8, 2018
Summary
Social media filters on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat are influencing plastic surgery desires. Surgeons should identify patients with unrealistic expectations and offer counseling instead of surgery.
Area of Science:
- Medical Aesthetics
- Psychology
- Digital Media Studies
Background:
- Growing concern in early 2018 highlighted by media regarding social media's impact on aesthetic surgery choices.
- Plastic surgeons report an increase in patient requests mirroring idealized "filtered" appearances from social media apps like Snapchat and Instagram.
Discussion:
- The phenomenon of "Snapchat dysmorphia" or seeking surgery to match filtered selfies presents ethical challenges.
- Identifying patients with body image issues exacerbated by social media filters is crucial for appropriate care.
- The influence of digital alterations on patient expectations for surgical outcomes requires careful consideration.
Key Insights:
- Social media filters can create unrealistic beauty standards, leading to potentially harmful patient requests.
- A significant number of patients are seeking procedures to achieve "filtered" looks, indicating a trend.
- The primary management strategy for such cases involves psychological counseling, not surgical intervention.
Outlook:
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term psychological effects of social media on body image.
- Developing guidelines for plastic surgeons on managing patients influenced by social media "filters" is essential.
- Public health initiatives may be necessary to educate users about the potential dangers of comparing real appearance to digitally altered images.