A new study conducted by researchers at Boston University has uncovered a shocking connection between frequent Social Media activity and cosmetic surgeries.
The research suggests that extensive use of these apps and photo editing tools – such as Snapchat filters and “Facetune” – correlates with appearance unhappiness and a desire to undergo physical alterations.
This trend, known as “Snapchat dysmorphia,” has led individuals to pursue Cosmetic Procedures to replicate their digitally filtered selves.
The researchers surveyed 175 individuals aged 18 and older from 2019 to 2021. The participants filled out a survey regarding their social media habits, perspectives on cosmetic procedures, and willingness to undergo surgery.
The team discovered that regular engagement with social media platforms, including Instagram and Snapchat, and the use of photo editing applications like Facetune or Lightroom correlated with heightened dissatisfaction with body image.
Moreover, the study noted that following celebrities, influencers, and accounts that display cosmetic procedure outcomes online swayed users’ interest in seeking aesthetic treatments.
“While there are many factors that likely contribute to this, social media usage did likely increase the desire, amongst a subset of patients, to seek cosmetic procedures,” the researchers stated.
The study revealed that the percentage of participants contemplating aesthetic procedures rose from 64% to 86%, and the number of those who pursued a surgical consultation increased from 44% to 68%.
Post-pandemic, about 78% of the participants expressed that undergoing a procedure would elevate their self-esteem. This represented a notable 30% increase from the pre-COVID era.
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“However, the filter effects and extensive photo manipulation often create images that are physically unattainable,” the team noted.
The researchers suggest that the altered perception of body image, fueled by “selfie culture,” led to a rise in cosmetic procedures during the pandemic – a period marked by significantly increased screen time. In fact, according to the study, around 3.5 billion individuals were active on social media in 2019, dedicating more than 6.3 hours daily to internet use.
“While there was an increase in cosmetic focus during the COVID pandemic, until now, there has not been data highlighting a clear link or factors that made patients more or less likely to participate in cosmetic treatments,” said Dr. Neelam Vashi, one of the study’s authors.
Now, the study’s results have led the researchers to recommend that doctors talk about internet usage with their patients.
“Quality care begins with quality conversations, and we hope this study encourages providers to ask about all aspects of a patient’s life to better understand their motivations and goals of care,” Dr. Vashi concluded.
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, visit the link here.
