As the popularity of social media giant Instagram increases, attention has turned to the platform for its role in the rise of negative personal image. For many users, this negative personal image has resulted in them choosing to make cosmetic changes, be it lip fillers or breast enlargement surgery. The range of new aesthetic treatments and procedures, many coming over from the United States, have rapidly caused a continuous growth of surgery available and performed over the last 10 years.
However, big advancements in surgical techniques have also taken place and have improved both the safety and results of more severe cosmetic changes by ten fold. For example, breast implants, liposuction and facelifts are being performed on the general public in greater numbers than ever seen before. But is it fair to say that the use of Instagram is responsible for this?
Urszula Makowska, an actress, fashion blogger and influencer does think Instagram is to blame for the rise in negative personal image. She says: “There has been a perception of what 'perfection' and 'beauty' is in society today, created by the imagery we see on social media.” From her own experience, Makowska admits to having battled with wanting to look a certain way, “the perfect way”, because of Instagram and social media. Makowska herself has had non-surgical rhinoplasty, “I was unhappy with my nose and wanted to change it”, she explains, “I was seeing photos of the perfect nose and I wanted the same."
Listen to my podcast below about the rise of non surgical treatments and how Instagram has played its part in helping them thrive!
The 24-year-old does think that the rise in surgical and non-surgical treatments is due to the power of social media: “People aspire to look the way that people on social media do.” Makowska explains that it is likely to be due to a case of what is becoming a social standard and that it is becoming increasingly “normal for people to have work done like this”. “Instagram has such a big influence over its users because it is based on visual content,” she explains that the very nature of Instagram being picture orientated, gives it a powerful hold over its audience. “People can physically see everything they need to, it makes everything on there seem more real." Here, Makowska refers to primarily the influencers who currently dominate the Instagram market: “People look up to them and the standards they set effect everyone else.”
Controversy has struck social media as a debate has ensued over whether influencers and models should admit to work they have had done to their followers. Makowska, who is an influencer herself, does think that it is important to take responsibility. “How can we promote positive body image if it’s all under false pretences.”
This however, is something that Sophie Attwood, Managing Director at Impress PR, doesn’t necessarily agree with. “I think that it creates a surge of interest in people wanting to have work done just to follow a trend – not because it’s the right decision for them.” Impress PR is a PR consultancy that specialises in the medical aesthetics industry, she explains that she has seen many people wanting to have work such as lip fillers done, not because they need it but because: "They want 'these lips' while pointing to a filtered before and after photograph, not even looking at their own face and what would work for their individual, unique features.”
Attwood says that Instagram isn’t the instigator of personal image issues, but with Instagram, “we spend all of our time aiming to ‘please’ our audience rather than looking once in the mirror at ourselves before we leave the house”. “All of my clients have noticed a huge rise in people coming forward to ask for cosmetic changes.” Attwood explains: “Doctor Dirk Kremer, a leading plastic surgeon who runs Harley Street Aesthetics, refers to it as ‘Snapchat Dysmorphia’”, she says Doctor Kremer is now having to perform, “psychology with a knife” to ensure that his patients aren’t undertaking cosmetic enhancements to simply follow a trend.
Sophie Atwood undergoing a non-surgical rhinoplasty procedure with Dr. Shirin Lakhani at Elite Aesthetics.
“I have absolutely no idea why it’s so important for people to look perfect on Instagram”, Attwood says, “Instagram as a concept is ridiculous.” Attwood says that it is based on sharing filtered photographs of peoples lives that, “don’t necessarily depict the reality of their situation”. “Cropping out rubbish in the background, changing the colors so that the weather looked better than it was, editing our skin so that it's completely flawless. We’re then constantly scrolling through other people’s filtered lives and feeling down about our own but forgetting that they’ve put the same filters on their photographs too."
Emily Baxendale, a social media assistant, is constantly on Instagram due to the nature of her job. “I personally think Instagram is a great tool, but there is no doubt that it causes negative personal image in some women.” Baxendale says: “The problem with Instagram is that it encourages a comparison culture”, she explains that this seems to effect younger women who are trying to figure out their image, the most.
The 22-year-old says that she decided to get lip fillers around two years ago: “When I look back, I didn’t really need it, but now I’m so used to it I don’t know if I could go back.” Baxendale has noticed that it is becoming increasingly normal for people to have minor work such as lip fillers done, “it’s almost like once you turn a certain age, it’s the normal routine for you to get it done”.
There are around 800 million users on Instagram showing it is a powerful platform with a huge span of influence. But, there is no surprise that people are starting to look at the platform's toxic traits, Attwood says: “The sad reality is that, Instagram really does matter and it’s having a huge impact on the way that people act – whether that’s fashion, lifestyle choices or indeed, cosmetic enhancements.”
Here are some useful guides that may help you if you are considering any of the surgery that I have mentioned:
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