What is Filter Dysmorphia and How is it Affecting Facial Plastic Surgery Trends?

Ladner Facial Plastic Surgery in Denver Colorado

If you’re on social media, chances are you’ve run into a filter that waves its magic wand to give you an enhanced version of yourself. In just a few clicks, you can have smoother skin, whiter teeth, fuller lips, and those baby blue eyes you’ve always wanted. The possibilities are truly endless.

While it may still be you under the surface, in reality, this is a filtered version of yourself, one that does not exist, but one that more and more people are still striving to achieve. This is leading to a trend known as filter dysmorphia.

Facial Plastic Surgery in Denver

What is Filter Dysmorphia?

There are several apps that allow people to use filters to create “perfect” versions of themselves. While there are some filters that are silly and can add a cat nose or dog ears, there are many other options that can truly change a person’s facial features.

While there’s no crime in wanting to improve or enhance your appearance, you need to have realistic expectations. More frequently than not, these filters give people a warped sense of their appearance, often leading them to see imperfections that don’t exist. This can bring them to a plastic surgeon’s office wanting to achieve the image they’ve created. A qualified plastic surgeon can tell you what is achievable and what is unrealistic when it comes to the procedures available.

How Filter Dysmorphia is Impacting Facial Plastic Surgery Trends

While some people may just play around with the filters and leave it at that, more and more people are taking it to the next level. Many plastic surgeons say people are now bringing in these images of what they want to look like over pictures of celebrities that used to serve as their guiding post.

When they create these versions of themselves and post them on social media they tend to get an influx of “likes” and positive comments. Of course, this makes them feel good, leading them to want to look like their “perfect selfie” in real life. In fact, a survey found that 55 percent of plastic surgeons say patients actually mention selfies as their reason for requesting plastic surgery. That’s up from 42 percent in 2015.

Because more younger people tend to use these filters, many plastic surgeons are seeing an increase in millennials and younger people wanting to get procedures so that they can look like the images they’ve created.

Filter dysmorphia can also greatly impact a person’s self-esteem. When people look at themselves in the mirror and the filtered image of their face is not there, they may also begin to develop self-esteem issues. The images that these filters produce are not real, but people begin to believe they are and use them as their criteria of what beauty is. This can lead to what is referred to as BDD, or body dysmorphic disorder. It’s when someone becomes obsessed with a non-existent flaw every time they look in the mirror. Instead of plastic surgery, therapy is typically recommended so people can deal with this issue.

Is Filter Dysmorphia Affecting You?

Filter dysmorphia may be affecting you and you may not even realize it. If you’re constantly posting filtered selfies and are becoming obsessed with the way they make you look, you may want to take a step back.

Furthermore, if you see “faults” when you look in the mirror because your filtered self is not staring back at you, this may also be a red flag. If you become so obsessed with your selfie image that it’s all you want to look like, you may also want to take a break from your filters.

Plastic surgeons need to be aware of the impact social media and these filters can have on their patients so that patients are seeking procedures for the right reasons.

If you are considering a facial plastic surgery procedure, contact Dr. Keith Ladner for a consultation. During your consultation, Dr. Ladner will discuss your reasons for wanting a procedure and what you hope to accomplish. Dr. Ladner has extensive experience in a wide variety of facial procedures. He is also double board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery as well as the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. Contact Dr. Ladner today at (303) 253-7686 to schedule your appointment.

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