Each year, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) conducts a survey of its members to get insight into patient demographics, and to identify popular procedures and trends in the cosmetic specialty. This year’s results indicate that millennials (aged 22-37 years) will be driving the demand for cosmetic procedures. Seventy-two percent of facial plastic surgeons saw patients younger than 30 years seeking cosmetic surgery or injectables,1 a significant increase from the previous year when that figure was 56%.2
“There are 2 aspects impacting the growing interest in the 20 to 30 age group,” said Phillip R. Langsdon, MD, FACS, president of the AAFPRS and a board-certified facial plastic surgeon with a practice in Germantown, TN. “First, availability of information makes it easier for patients to learn about and understand what treatments are available. Second, the ‘era of selfies’ is causing many young people to be more appearance conscious, and unfortunately some are overly and unrealistically self-conscious.” Dr Langsdon spoke more about how selfies are influencing procedures, and other themes from the survey results.
Selfies
The biggest patient motivators reported in the AAFPRS survey were the desire to look better in selfies and dissatisfaction with their profile, such as complaints about the nose, chin, and/or neck.1 Reports on the influence of selfies among cosmetic patients led to the coining of the term “snapchat dysmorphia” in early 2018, which is commonly attributed to Matthew Schulman, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York, NY.3
“The age of selfies has exponentially increased unrealistic expectations,” said Dr Langsdon. “Worse, many people with a cell phone now feel they know more than expert providers.” He recommends providers be aware and cautious when dealing with unrealistic patients.
Although the survey does not report on trends in patients with body dysmorphia disorder (BDD), Dr Langsdon noted that he was seeing more patients who potentially had BDD in his office due to enhanced social media tools.
Concerns for BDD among patients seeking cosmetic enhancements has been reported both in the media4-6 and journals, including a recent letter published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.7 (The Dermatologist published a cover story on the subject in December 2018.)
Social media also has normalized cosmetic treatments and self-care that involves preventive measures to reduce or delay the signs of aging, often referred to as pre-juvenation.
While celebrities are still considered a major influence on cosmetic procedures by 97% of AAFPRS members, overly enhanced looks, like Kylie Jenner’s pout, are becoming less popular.1 The focus is more on a “natural look,” with 41% of patients reporting a fear of looking unnatural as a top concern when considering cosmetic surgery.
Top Cosmetic Treatments
Survey results also indicated that injectables, lasers, peels, and microneedling were in high demand, as well as combining 2 or 3 noninvasive procedures during a single visit.1 In 2018, four-fifths of treatments performed by plastic surgeons were nonsurgical cosmetic procedures. Overall, the most popular procedure for both men and women was Botox, followed by fillers. Top surgical trends included rhinoplasty (96%), revision surgery (94%), and eye lifts (93%).
Dr Langsdon believed these trends will endure for the coming year. “The interest in rhinoplasty and injectables will continue as long as the economy remains as good as it is,” he said.
Additionally, the number of revision surgeries performed by surgeons nearly doubled since 2017. Approximately one-third of AAFPRS members attributed this rise to the number of nonmedical staff performing procedures. “The more treatments that are rendered, the more problems we will see,” Dr Langsdon said. “Some complications cannot be prevented and occur by no fault of anyone. However, some are caused by lack of training and experience. My concern is that there are always some people providing treatment who may not have adequate training and experience to either prevent problems or handle complications when they do occur.”
What Providers Should Know
Social media, selfies, and pre-juvenation will most likely continue to influence cosmetic treatments into the foreseeable future. According to Dr Langsdon, providers should:
- Prepare to handle potential complications associated with cosmetic treatment
- Never perform a technique that is not within his or her expertise or done on a regular basis in his or her clinic
- Screen for patients with unrealistic expectations
“As physicians, we must provide only ethical treatments,” added Dr Langsdon. “Providers must be able and willing to say no when a patient is either unrealistic about a requested treatment or does not need a requested treatment.”
References
1. Wan D, Amirlak B, Rohrich R, Davis K. The 1. AAFPRS 2018 annual survey reveals key trends in facial plastic surgery [press release]. Washington, DC: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; January 23, 2018. https://www.aafprs.org/media/stats_polls/m_stats.html. Accessed January 31, 2019.
2. Social media makes lasting impact on industry – becomes cultural force, not fad [press release]. Washington, DC: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; January 26, 2018. https://www.aafprs.org/media/press-release/20170125.html. Accessed January 29, 2019.
3. Ramphul K, Mejias SG. Is “snapchat dysmorphia” a real issue? Cureus. 2018;10(3):e2263. doi:10.7759/cureus.2263
4. Hunt E. Faking it: how selfie dysmorphia is driving people to seek surgery. The Guardian. January 23, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jan/23/faking-it-how-selfie-dysmorphia-is-driving-people-to-seek-surgery. Accessed January 31, 2019.
5. Brucculieri J. ‘Snapchat dysmorphia’ points to a troubling new trend in plastic surgery. Life. February 22, 2018. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/snapchat-dysmorphia_n_5a8d8168e4b0273053a680f6. Accessed January 31, 2019.
6. Chiu A. Patients are desperate to resemble their doctored selfies. Plastic surgeons alarmed by ‘Snapchat dysmorphia.’ Washington Post. August 6, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/08/06/patients-are-desperate-to-resemble-their-doctored-selfies-plastic-surgeons-alarmed-by-snapchat-dysmorphia/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.ce244b5734b3. Accessed January 31, 2019.
Each year, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) conducts a survey of its members to get insight into patient demographics, and to identify popular procedures and trends in the cosmetic specialty. This year’s results indicate that millennials (aged 22-37 years) will be driving the demand for cosmetic procedures. Seventy-two percent of facial plastic surgeons saw patients younger than 30 years seeking cosmetic surgery or injectables,1 a significant increase from the previous year when that figure was 56%.2
“There are 2 aspects impacting the growing interest in the 20 to 30 age group,” said Phillip R. Langsdon, MD, FACS, president of the AAFPRS and a board-certified facial plastic surgeon with a practice in Germantown, TN. “First, availability of information makes it easier for patients to learn about and understand what treatments are available. Second, the ‘era of selfies’ is causing many young people to be more appearance conscious, and unfortunately some are overly and unrealistically self-conscious.” Dr Langsdon spoke more about how selfies are influencing procedures, and other themes from the survey results.
Selfies
The biggest patient motivators reported in the AAFPRS survey were the desire to look better in selfies and dissatisfaction with their profile, such as complaints about the nose, chin, and/or neck.1 Reports on the influence of selfies among cosmetic patients led to the coining of the term “snapchat dysmorphia” in early 2018, which is commonly attributed to Matthew Schulman, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York, NY.3
“The age of selfies has exponentially increased unrealistic expectations,” said Dr Langsdon. “Worse, many people with a cell phone now feel they know more than expert providers.” He recommends providers be aware and cautious when dealing with unrealistic patients.
Although the survey does not report on trends in patients with body dysmorphia disorder (BDD), Dr Langsdon noted that he was seeing more patients who potentially had BDD in his office due to enhanced social media tools.
Concerns for BDD among patients seeking cosmetic enhancements has been reported both in the media4-6 and journals, including a recent letter published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.7 (The Dermatologist published a cover story on the subject in December 2018.)
Social media also has normalized cosmetic treatments and self-care that involves preventive measures to reduce or delay the signs of aging, often referred to as pre-juvenation.
While celebrities are still considered a major influence on cosmetic procedures by 97% of AAFPRS members, overly enhanced looks, like Kylie Jenner’s pout, are becoming less popular.1 The focus is more on a “natural look,” with 41% of patients reporting a fear of looking unnatural as a top concern when considering cosmetic surgery.
Top Cosmetic Treatments
Survey results also indicated that injectables, lasers, peels, and microneedling were in high demand, as well as combining 2 or 3 noninvasive procedures during a single visit.1 In 2018, four-fifths of treatments performed by plastic surgeons were nonsurgical cosmetic procedures. Overall, the most popular procedure for both men and women was Botox, followed by fillers. Top surgical trends included rhinoplasty (96%), revision surgery (94%), and eye lifts (93%).
Dr Langsdon believed these trends will endure for the coming year. “The interest in rhinoplasty and injectables will continue as long as the economy remains as good as it is,” he said.
Additionally, the number of revision surgeries performed by surgeons nearly doubled since 2017. Approximately one-third of AAFPRS members attributed this rise to the number of nonmedical staff performing procedures. “The more treatments that are rendered, the more problems we will see,” Dr Langsdon said. “Some complications cannot be prevented and occur by no fault of anyone. However, some are caused by lack of training and experience. My concern is that there are always some people providing treatment who may not have adequate training and experience to either prevent problems or handle complications when they do occur.”
What Providers Should Know
Social media, selfies, and pre-juvenation will most likely continue to influence cosmetic treatments into the foreseeable future. According to Dr Langsdon, providers should:
- Prepare to handle potential complications associated with cosmetic treatment
- Never perform a technique that is not within his or her expertise or done on a regular basis in his or her clinic
- Screen for patients with unrealistic expectations
“As physicians, we must provide only ethical treatments,” added Dr Langsdon. “Providers must be able and willing to say no when a patient is either unrealistic about a requested treatment or does not need a requested treatment.”
References
1. Wan D, Amirlak B, Rohrich R, Davis K. The 1. AAFPRS 2018 annual survey reveals key trends in facial plastic surgery [press release]. Washington, DC: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; January 23, 2018. https://www.aafprs.org/media/stats_polls/m_stats.html. Accessed January 31, 2019.
2. Social media makes lasting impact on industry – becomes cultural force, not fad [press release]. Washington, DC: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; January 26, 2018. https://www.aafprs.org/media/press-release/20170125.html. Accessed January 29, 2019.
3. Ramphul K, Mejias SG. Is “snapchat dysmorphia” a real issue? Cureus. 2018;10(3):e2263. doi:10.7759/cureus.2263
4. Hunt E. Faking it: how selfie dysmorphia is driving people to seek surgery. The Guardian. January 23, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jan/23/faking-it-how-selfie-dysmorphia-is-driving-people-to-seek-surgery. Accessed January 31, 2019.
5. Brucculieri J. ‘Snapchat dysmorphia’ points to a troubling new trend in plastic surgery. Life. February 22, 2018. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/snapchat-dysmorphia_n_5a8d8168e4b0273053a680f6. Accessed January 31, 2019.
6. Chiu A. Patients are desperate to resemble their doctored selfies. Plastic surgeons alarmed by ‘Snapchat dysmorphia.’ Washington Post. August 6, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/08/06/patients-are-desperate-to-resemble-their-doctored-selfies-plastic-surgeons-alarmed-by-snapchat-dysmorphia/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.ce244b5734b3. Accessed January 31, 2019.
Each year, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) conducts a survey of its members to get insight into patient demographics, and to identify popular procedures and trends in the cosmetic specialty. This year’s results indicate that millennials (aged 22-37 years) will be driving the demand for cosmetic procedures. Seventy-two percent of facial plastic surgeons saw patients younger than 30 years seeking cosmetic surgery or injectables,1 a significant increase from the previous year when that figure was 56%.2
“There are 2 aspects impacting the growing interest in the 20 to 30 age group,” said Phillip R. Langsdon, MD, FACS, president of the AAFPRS and a board-certified facial plastic surgeon with a practice in Germantown, TN. “First, availability of information makes it easier for patients to learn about and understand what treatments are available. Second, the ‘era of selfies’ is causing many young people to be more appearance conscious, and unfortunately some are overly and unrealistically self-conscious.” Dr Langsdon spoke more about how selfies are influencing procedures, and other themes from the survey results.
Selfies
The biggest patient motivators reported in the AAFPRS survey were the desire to look better in selfies and dissatisfaction with their profile, such as complaints about the nose, chin, and/or neck.1 Reports on the influence of selfies among cosmetic patients led to the coining of the term “snapchat dysmorphia” in early 2018, which is commonly attributed to Matthew Schulman, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York, NY.3
“The age of selfies has exponentially increased unrealistic expectations,” said Dr Langsdon. “Worse, many people with a cell phone now feel they know more than expert providers.” He recommends providers be aware and cautious when dealing with unrealistic patients.
Although the survey does not report on trends in patients with body dysmorphia disorder (BDD), Dr Langsdon noted that he was seeing more patients who potentially had BDD in his office due to enhanced social media tools.
Concerns for BDD among patients seeking cosmetic enhancements has been reported both in the media4-6 and journals, including a recent letter published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.7 (The Dermatologist published a cover story on the subject in December 2018.)
Social media also has normalized cosmetic treatments and self-care that involves preventive measures to reduce or delay the signs of aging, often referred to as pre-juvenation.
While celebrities are still considered a major influence on cosmetic procedures by 97% of AAFPRS members, overly enhanced looks, like Kylie Jenner’s pout, are becoming less popular.1 The focus is more on a “natural look,” with 41% of patients reporting a fear of looking unnatural as a top concern when considering cosmetic surgery.
,
Each year, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) conducts a survey of its members to get insight into patient demographics, and to identify popular procedures and trends in the cosmetic specialty. This year’s results indicate that millennials (aged 22-37 years) will be driving the demand for cosmetic procedures. Seventy-two percent of facial plastic surgeons saw patients younger than 30 years seeking cosmetic surgery or injectables,1 a significant increase from the previous year when that figure was 56%.2
“There are 2 aspects impacting the growing interest in the 20 to 30 age group,” said Phillip R. Langsdon, MD, FACS, president of the AAFPRS and a board-certified facial plastic surgeon with a practice in Germantown, TN. “First, availability of information makes it easier for patients to learn about and understand what treatments are available. Second, the ‘era of selfies’ is causing many young people to be more appearance conscious, and unfortunately some are overly and unrealistically self-conscious.” Dr Langsdon spoke more about how selfies are influencing procedures, and other themes from the survey results.
Selfies
The biggest patient motivators reported in the AAFPRS survey were the desire to look better in selfies and dissatisfaction with their profile, such as complaints about the nose, chin, and/or neck.1 Reports on the influence of selfies among cosmetic patients led to the coining of the term “snapchat dysmorphia” in early 2018, which is commonly attributed to Matthew Schulman, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York, NY.3
“The age of selfies has exponentially increased unrealistic expectations,” said Dr Langsdon. “Worse, many people with a cell phone now feel they know more than expert providers.” He recommends providers be aware and cautious when dealing with unrealistic patients.
Although the survey does not report on trends in patients with body dysmorphia disorder (BDD), Dr Langsdon noted that he was seeing more patients who potentially had BDD in his office due to enhanced social media tools.
Concerns for BDD among patients seeking cosmetic enhancements has been reported both in the media4-6 and journals, including a recent letter published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.7 (The Dermatologist published a cover story on the subject in December 2018.)
Social media also has normalized cosmetic treatments and self-care that involves preventive measures to reduce or delay the signs of aging, often referred to as pre-juvenation.
While celebrities are still considered a major influence on cosmetic procedures by 97% of AAFPRS members, overly enhanced looks, like Kylie Jenner’s pout, are becoming less popular.1 The focus is more on a “natural look,” with 41% of patients reporting a fear of looking unnatural as a top concern when considering cosmetic surgery.
Top Cosmetic Treatments
Survey results also indicated that injectables, lasers, peels, and microneedling were in high demand, as well as combining 2 or 3 noninvasive procedures during a single visit.1 In 2018, four-fifths of treatments performed by plastic surgeons were nonsurgical cosmetic procedures. Overall, the most popular procedure for both men and women was Botox, followed by fillers. Top surgical trends included rhinoplasty (96%), revision surgery (94%), and eye lifts (93%).
Dr Langsdon believed these trends will endure for the coming year. “The interest in rhinoplasty and injectables will continue as long as the economy remains as good as it is,” he said.
Additionally, the number of revision surgeries performed by surgeons nearly doubled since 2017. Approximately one-third of AAFPRS members attributed this rise to the number of nonmedical staff performing procedures. “The more treatments that are rendered, the more problems we will see,” Dr Langsdon said. “Some complications cannot be prevented and occur by no fault of anyone. However, some are caused by lack of training and experience. My concern is that there are always some people providing treatment who may not have adequate training and experience to either prevent problems or handle complications when they do occur.”
What Providers Should Know
Social media, selfies, and pre-juvenation will most likely continue to influence cosmetic treatments into the foreseeable future. According to Dr Langsdon, providers should:
- Prepare to handle potential complications associated with cosmetic treatment
- Never perform a technique that is not within his or her expertise or done on a regular basis in his or her clinic
- Screen for patients with unrealistic expectations
“As physicians, we must provide only ethical treatments,” added Dr Langsdon. “Providers must be able and willing to say no when a patient is either unrealistic about a requested treatment or does not need a requested treatment.”
References
1. Wan D, Amirlak B, Rohrich R, Davis K. The 1. AAFPRS 2018 annual survey reveals key trends in facial plastic surgery [press release]. Washington, DC: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; January 23, 2018. https://www.aafprs.org/media/stats_polls/m_stats.html. Accessed January 31, 2019.
2. Social media makes lasting impact on industry – becomes cultural force, not fad [press release]. Washington, DC: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; January 26, 2018. https://www.aafprs.org/media/press-release/20170125.html. Accessed January 29, 2019.
3. Ramphul K, Mejias SG. Is “snapchat dysmorphia” a real issue? Cureus. 2018;10(3):e2263. doi:10.7759/cureus.2263
4. Hunt E. Faking it: how selfie dysmorphia is driving people to seek surgery. The Guardian. January 23, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jan/23/faking-it-how-selfie-dysmorphia-is-driving-people-to-seek-surgery. Accessed January 31, 2019.
5. Brucculieri J. ‘Snapchat dysmorphia’ points to a troubling new trend in plastic surgery. Life. February 22, 2018. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/snapchat-dysmorphia_n_5a8d8168e4b0273053a680f6. Accessed January 31, 2019.
6. Chiu A. Patients are desperate to resemble their doctored selfies. Plastic surgeons alarmed by ‘Snapchat dysmorphia.’ Washington Post. August 6, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/08/06/patients-are-desperate-to-resemble-their-doctored-selfies-plastic-surgeons-alarmed-by-snapchat-dysmorphia/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.ce244b5734b3. Accessed January 31, 2019.
Each year, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) conducts a survey of its members to get insight into patient demographics, and to identify popular procedures and trends in the cosmetic specialty. This year’s results indicate that millennials (aged 22-37 years) will be driving the demand for cosmetic procedures. Seventy-two percent of facial plastic surgeons saw patients younger than 30 years seeking cosmetic surgery or injectables,1 a significant increase from the previous year when that figure was 56%.2
“There are 2 aspects impacting the growing interest in the 20 to 30 age group,” said Phillip R. Langsdon, MD, FACS, president of the AAFPRS and a board-certified facial plastic surgeon with a practice in Germantown, TN. “First, availability of information makes it easier for patients to learn about and understand what treatments are available. Second, the ‘era of selfies’ is causing many young people to be more appearance conscious, and unfortunately some are overly and unrealistically self-conscious.” Dr Langsdon spoke more about how selfies are influencing procedures, and other themes from the survey results.
Selfies
The biggest patient motivators reported in the AAFPRS survey were the desire to look better in selfies and dissatisfaction with their profile, such as complaints about the nose, chin, and/or neck.1 Reports on the influence of selfies among cosmetic patients led to the coining of the term “snapchat dysmorphia” in early 2018, which is commonly attributed to Matthew Schulman, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York, NY.3
“The age of selfies has exponentially increased unrealistic expectations,” said Dr Langsdon. “Worse, many people with a cell phone now feel they know more than expert providers.” He recommends providers be aware and cautious when dealing with unrealistic patients.
Although the survey does not report on trends in patients with body dysmorphia disorder (BDD), Dr Langsdon noted that he was seeing more patients who potentially had BDD in his office due to enhanced social media tools.
Concerns for BDD among patients seeking cosmetic enhancements has been reported both in the media4-6 and journals, including a recent letter published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.7 (The Dermatologist published a cover story on the subject in December 2018.)
Social media also has normalized cosmetic treatments and self-care that involves preventive measures to reduce or delay the signs of aging, often referred to as pre-juvenation.
While celebrities are still considered a major influence on cosmetic procedures by 97% of AAFPRS members, overly enhanced looks, like Kylie Jenner’s pout, are becoming less popular.1 The focus is more on a “natural look,” with 41% of patients reporting a fear of looking unnatural as a top concern when considering cosmetic surgery.
Top Cosmetic Treatments
Survey results also indicated that injectables, lasers, peels, and microneedling were in high demand, as well as combining 2 or 3 noninvasive procedures during a single visit.1 In 2018, four-fifths of treatments performed by plastic surgeons were nonsurgical cosmetic procedures. Overall, the most popular procedure for both men and women was Botox, followed by fillers. Top surgical trends included rhinoplasty (96%), revision surgery (94%), and eye lifts (93%).
Dr Langsdon believed these trends will endure for the coming year. “The interest in rhinoplasty and injectables will continue as long as the economy remains as good as it is,” he said.
Additionally, the number of revision surgeries performed by surgeons nearly doubled since 2017. Approximately one-third of AAFPRS members attributed this rise to the number of nonmedical staff performing procedures. “The more treatments that are rendered, the more problems we will see,” Dr Langsdon said. “Some complications cannot be prevented and occur by no fault of anyone. However, some are caused by lack of training and experience. My concern is that there are always some people providing treatment who may not have adequate training and experience to either prevent problems or handle complications when they do occur.”
What Providers Should Know
Social media, selfies, and pre-juvenation will most likely continue to influence cosmetic treatments into the foreseeable future. According to Dr Langsdon, providers should:
- Prepare to handle potential complications associated with cosmetic treatment
- Never perform a technique that is not within his or her expertise or done on a regular basis in his or her clinic
- Screen for patients with unrealistic expectations
“As physicians, we must provide only ethical treatments,” added Dr Langsdon. “Providers must be able and willing to say no when a patient is either unrealistic about a requested treatment or does not need a requested treatment.”
References
1. Wan D, Amirlak B, Rohrich R, Davis K. The 1. AAFPRS 2018 annual survey reveals key trends in facial plastic surgery [press release]. Washington, DC: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; January 23, 2018. https://www.aafprs.org/media/stats_polls/m_stats.html. Accessed January 31, 2019.
2. Social media makes lasting impact on industry – becomes cultural force, not fad [press release]. Washington, DC: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; January 26, 2018. https://www.aafprs.org/media/press-release/20170125.html. Accessed January 29, 2019.
3. Ramphul K, Mejias SG. Is “snapchat dysmorphia” a real issue? Cureus. 2018;10(3):e2263. doi:10.7759/cureus.2263
4. Hunt E. Faking it: how selfie dysmorphia is driving people to seek surgery. The Guardian. January 23, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jan/23/faking-it-how-selfie-dysmorphia-is-driving-people-to-seek-surgery. Accessed January 31, 2019.
5. Brucculieri J. ‘Snapchat dysmorphia’ points to a troubling new trend in plastic surgery. Life. February 22, 2018. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/snapchat-dysmorphia_n_5a8d8168e4b0273053a680f6. Accessed January 31, 2019.
6. Chiu A. Patients are desperate to resemble their doctored selfies. Plastic surgeons alarmed by ‘Snapchat dysmorphia.’ Washington Post. August 6, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/08/06/patients-are-desperate-to-resemble-their-doctored-selfies-plastic-surgeons-alarmed-by-snapchat-dysmorphia/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.ce244b5734b3. Accessed January 31, 2019.
Top Cosmetic Treatments
Survey results also indicated that injectables, lasers, peels, and microneedling were in high demand, as well as combining 2 or 3 noninvasive procedures during a single visit.1 In 2018, four-fifths of treatments performed by plastic surgeons were nonsurgical cosmetic procedures. Overall, the most popular procedure for both men and women was Botox, followed by fillers. Top surgical trends included rhinoplasty (96%), revision surgery (94%), and eye lifts (93%).
Dr Langsdon believed these trends will endure for the coming year. “The interest in rhinoplasty and injectables will continue as long as the economy remains as good as it is,” he said.
Additionally, the number of revision surgeries performed by surgeons nearly doubled since 2017. Approximately one-third of AAFPRS members attributed this rise to the number of nonmedical staff performing procedures. “The more treatments that are rendered, the more problems we will see,” Dr Langsdon said. “Some complications cannot be prevented and occur by no fault of anyone. However, some are caused by lack of training and experience. My concern is that there are always some people providing treatment who may not have adequate training and experience to either prevent problems or handle complications when they do occur.”
What Providers Should Know
Social media, selfies, and pre-juvenation will most likely continue to influence cosmetic treatments into the foreseeable future. According to Dr Langsdon, providers should:
- Prepare to handle potential complications associated with cosmetic treatment
- Never perform a technique that is not within his or her expertise or done on a regular basis in his or her clinic
- Screen for patients with unrealistic expectations
“As physicians, we must provide only ethical treatments,” added Dr Langsdon. “Providers must be able and willing to say no when a patient is either unrealistic about a requested treatment or does not need a requested treatment.”
References
1. Wan D, Amirlak B, Rohrich R, Davis K. The 1. AAFPRS 2018 annual survey reveals key trends in facial plastic surgery [press release]. Washington, DC: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; January 23, 2018. https://www.aafprs.org/media/stats_polls/m_stats.html. Accessed January 31, 2019.
2. Social media makes lasting impact on industry – becomes cultural force, not fad [press release]. Washington, DC: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; January 26, 2018. https://www.aafprs.org/media/press-release/20170125.html. Accessed January 29, 2019.
3. Ramphul K, Mejias SG. Is “snapchat dysmorphia” a real issue? Cureus. 2018;10(3):e2263. doi:10.7759/cureus.2263
4. Hunt E. Faking it: how selfie dysmorphia is driving people to seek surgery. The Guardian. January 23, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jan/23/faking-it-how-selfie-dysmorphia-is-driving-people-to-seek-surgery. Accessed January 31, 2019.
5. Brucculieri J. ‘Snapchat dysmorphia’ points to a troubling new trend in plastic surgery. Life. February 22, 2018. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/snapchat-dysmorphia_n_5a8d8168e4b0273053a680f6. Accessed January 31, 2019.
6. Chiu A. Patients are desperate to resemble their doctored selfies. Plastic surgeons alarmed by ‘Snapchat dysmorphia.’ Washington Post. August 6, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/08/06/patients-are-desperate-to-resemble-their-doctored-selfies-plastic-surgeons-alarmed-by-snapchat-dysmorphia/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.ce244b5734b3. Accessed January 31, 2019.
