With World Health Day this month, it is an ideal time to focus on mental health and the challenges that social media can bring to our daily lives.
With the invention of apps like Facetune, people are able to put an edited, perfected version of themselves on social media. Facetune allows users to remove red-eye, erase blemishes and smooth out the skin, as well as touch-up make-up. With the ability to modify the face and body, these popular tools are giving people the opportunity to “realize” their dreams of having a thinner nose, slimmer face, larger butt or smaller waist.
Using filters to alter your photos can be harmful to your mental health. Once you begin editing your photos, it can be difficult to stop. If you edit your photos a few times, you’ll feel the need to maintain consistency with the “new version” of yourself that you’ve published online, making it difficult to stop using the editing tools. Body image issues develop when you’re regularly reminded that you don’t look like the edited version of yourself in real life.
In response to this, Instagram has banned all filters that allow people to look as though they’ve undergone plastic surgery. They removed the “Fix Me” filter that superimposed pen marks onto the user’s face to show how a cosmetic surgeon might map out the lifts and tucks of plastic surgery. They also removed “Plastica,” which over-inflated lips and cheeks to mimic procedures. Instagram has opted to limit such content due to the impact it can have on our body image and mental health.
For people looking to enhance or change their looks through actual plastic surgery, it is important to go through procedures for the right reasons. If you’re considering plastic surgery to look like someone else – such as a celebrity, athlete or influencer – you may want to reconsider your goals, and ensure you’re setting realistic expectations. Getting plastic surgery to please someone else, like a partner or because your friends are having procedures also isn’t the right reason. If you’re considering a procedure for “revenge” after a breakup or divorce, you may want to rethink your decision. Plastic surgery should never be used to address emotional and psychological challenges. While it may provide a temporary boost, it won’t resolve underlying issues.
Having realistic expectations is key. It’s so important to remember that minor imperfections are just that: Minor. To you, a small bump on your nose may seem huge, but keeping it in perspective is important. It’s also important to remember that you won’t see results the minute you leave the operating table, but if you’re able to maintain a healthy attitude about the procedure, and the positive things it can do for you, you’re a great candidate for plastic surgery.
Dr. Jennifer Levine has performed thousands of procedures and knows that the best results are realistic ones. To help her share her “Believable Beauty” approach to cosmetic procedures, Dr. Levine uses the VECTRA H1 3D imaging camera. This amazing technology gives patients in consultations a clear idea of what results they can expect from their procedures.
Learn what Dr. Levine and her believable beauty results can do for you. Call 646.362.5245 for a consultation with Dr. Levine today.
