People Are Getting Plastic Surgery to Look Like Snapchat Filters, Doctors Warn

Doctors are raising concerns about a new way social media may be messing with your self-esteem: something called “Snapchat dysmorphia.” An increasing number of patients are seeking out plastic surgery based on what they see in apps like Snapchat and Facetune, according to three dermatologists from the Boston University School of Medicine writing in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery. “A new phenomenon, dubbed ‘Snapchat dysmorphia,’ has patients seeking out cosmetic surgery to look like filtered versions of themselves instead, with fuller lips, bigger eyes, or a thinner nose,” they write. “This is an alarming trend because those filtered selfies often present an unattainable look and are blurring the line of reality and fantasy for these patients.” That’s in contrast to patients of the past, who tended to seek inspiration from celebrities, according to the authors. A growing number of people are also interested in facial symmetry, rather than small fixes like smoothing out a bump in the nose, the article says. The term “Snapchat dysmorphia” is derived from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which is characterized by obsession over perceived physical flaws, even those that may be invisible to others, according to the Mayo Clinic. While Snapchat dysmorphia is not a clinically diagnosable condition, the authors write that pursuing surgery for unrealistic facial changes could contribute to or exacerbate BDD. (Representativ...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized healthytime Mental Health/Psychology onetime Source Type: news