Getting Facelifts to Look Better on Facebook

By Mohamed Taki - Medical Research Editor | October 10th, 2012

Social media surfing is everyone’s favorite pastime. We check in our social medial accounts all the time, from the time we wake up in the morning to the moment we call it a day.

In the bathroom, between meals and before we go to bed we update our status, post personal pictures and chat with friends. This seems to be the norm in our digital age.

But could being a savvy social media user entice the need for plastic surgery?

Dr. Adam Schaffner, a New York City plastic surgeon, suggests that maybe seeing the face from the unflattering angle of looking down into the handheld device made people re-evaluate the straightforward view they are used to seeing every morning in the mirror.

“I am seeing people specifically from the mid-Hudson Valley requesting chin implants and other esthetic procedures as a result of their appearance on social media,” Dr. Schaffner said.

“They may say ‘I saw my turkey neck’ or ‘I saw my jowls on my iPhone, iPad, Skype, Facebook, You Tube or another social media outlet and did not like it.’”

Making Connections: Plastic Surgeons, Patients and Social Media

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, chin augmentations have increased 71 percent in the last year.

For some, looking their best in pictures of ‘my best friend’s wedding’ posted on facebook is more important than how they look in real life.

A real-life example is Triana Lavey, a 37-year-old television producer in Los Angeles, told ABC News, “I have been self-conscious about my chin, and it's all stemming from these Facebook photos,"

"I think that social media has really changed so much about how we look at ourselves and judge ourselves," Lavey said. "Ten years ago, I don't think I even noticed that I had a weak chin."

Plastic surgeons are also catering to the iPhone generation labeling some of their cosmetic treatments as Facebook facelift.

At Lavey’s pre-surgery consultation, Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, showed her an avatar of what her face will look like online.

Dr. Ellenbogen explained that augmentation of the chin should be balanced by enhancements made to the rest of the face with facial treatments such as fat grafting and nose surgery.

Can social media create a culture of vanity and self-obsession?

Social motivated surgeries will continue to be popular, concludes Dr. Adam Schaffner, especially in a tough job market where people need to look their best and most vibrant to remain competitive.

"There is always room for improvement as we age," he added. "We want to look as good as possible to reflect how energetic one feels on the inside."

Altering the webcam angle to look better online may work for some people. For others who can afford it; plastic surgery can yield gratifying results to look good online and offline.

After more than a month from her surgery, Lavey said she felt more confident. "It extends all the way from Skyping with people [to] having people tag me in a Facebook photo," she said. "If the camera comes out at a party ... I am fine with it. I am excited to see them. Before, I used to want to hold my chin, but now I want to show my face."

To learn more about plastic surgery, contact a plastic surgeon in your area.