Instagram’s New Plastic Surgery Policy: A Plastic Surgeon’s Take
Instagram recently announced that age restrictions would now apply to posts related to diet and cosmetic surgery on both Instagram and Facebook. Since I am a plastic surgeon, you may think I am against such a move, but to be honest, I welcome it. I’ve been incredibly concerned about the impact of detox, diet, and cosmetic surgery content on young impressionable minds.
Thanks to this new Instagram policy, users under the age of 18 will not be able to see posts that promote weight loss and detox diets, as well as cosmetic procedures. Let’s delve further into this topic so that I can illustrate why this change is beneficial and essential to the health of our community.
Misguided Fans
In the last few years, more and more young adults have been coming to me with pictures of their favorite celebrities and models, requesting cosmetic procedures that will make them look like their idols. There is nothing wrong with trying to improve your appearance, but it’s not healthy to transform yourself entirely because you want to look exactly like another person.
The amount of pressure that people can feel from social media posts is unbelievable. When high-profile entities like the Kardashians frequently post about “magical” diet products and detox teas, what else can you expect? Their millions of followers fail to realize that these celebrities get paid to promote these products! I would be surprised if they use any of the products they advertise in their social media posts.
Plastic Surgery and Instagram
As a plastic surgeon, I get two kinds of patients:
One type wants to enhance their appearance, or they need corrective surgery. Maybe they want to remove a mole, eliminate some fine wrinkles, smooth out crow’s feet, plump up their thin lips, or augment their small breasts. These people know they can look even better with cosmetic surgery. They only desire to improve their bodies, not change them into something they are not.
I call the other type the “Instagram addicts.” These people see their bodies as an ugly curse, and they desire complete reconstruction. They will undergo drastic changes to look like celebrities, such as Angelina Jolie or Christina Aguilera. I fear these patients because, as any surgeon worth their salt will tell you, people who are extremely unhappy, anxious, or depressed about their pre-surgery appearance are never happier or more satisfied after the procedure. Just Google “extreme plastic surgery,” and you’ll know what I mean. If I think that a patient’s requests are coming from a psychological issue, I don’t hesitate to turn them away.
Engaging With a Sensible, Caring Plastic Surgeon
Instagram’s policy on plastic surgery highlights the importance of choosing a plastic surgeon or cosmetic professional that has your best interests in mind. Aside from achieving your cosmetic goals, I always ensure that I’m putting the mental and physical well-being of my clients above everything else.If you have a procedure in mind, let’s bring you for an initial consultation. Call AT Cosmetics today at (301) 656-6398 or contact us online to learn more about our cosmetic services.
July 20, 2020 1:36 pm
Categories: Plastic Surgery
