In a world in which attaching a filter to every photo we take has become the norm, what might social psychology and communication studies have to say about how this has affected society's views of beauty standards and what is considered "beautiful"? Furthermore, how is the filtered facade impacting trends in cosmetic surgery?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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*Photo from https://www.pratisandhi.com/decoding-beauty-standards/

 

 

There are a number of communication theories that give insight into why many of us seek to make these appearance changes. The first of which is Social Comparison Theory created by Leon Festinger. It states that, "people evaluate their abilities and attitudes in relation to those of others in a process that plays a significant role in self-image and subjective well-being". We can see this theory in play on social media platforms in which there is a constant competition to see who is doing the most, being the fittest, doing the most activities, etc. As a result of seeing other's achievements plastered over their feed in which they scroll through for hours of their day, it influences them to make changes, health and unhealthy, toward getting themselves where the influencers are.

 

The second theory is Expectancy Violation Theory (EVT) created by Judee Burgoon, which emphasizes how to "predict how a person’s expectations of another person’s behavior can be violated and if the person viewing the violation sees it as a reward or punishment." We can see this theory at work with cat fishing where people use photos of attractive individuals who are not themselves to gain the trust of people and build relationships with them. It can also be seen in influencers reigning at the top of the social media hierarchy rather than average Joe Shmoe. In general society is attracted to attractive people and offer their praise and trust more than less attractive individuals.

 

In one study done from 2020, Janella Eshiet asked their female identifying participants to describe what they thought society's standard of beauty was. Their answers included notable features like eyes, body, and lips. Many of the participants used filters despite knowing that they distorted their realistic appearance in order be able to fit better into what society viewed as "beautiful".

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As discussed earlier in the website, it becomes clearer how "the tyranny of the ideal image of beauty has persisted and become even more pervasive through digital retouching." This affects how individuals view themselves and others, leading the actions that may have lasting effects.

 

Another large concern resulting from an increasing prevalence in beauty filters is the connected growth in plastic/cosmetic surgeries. Cosmetic surgeons and surgeons with private practices are more likely to seek professional presence on social media, and in general, the social media presence of plastic surgeons is rising.

 

A large concern with cosmetic surgery posts becoming more popular on social media platforms is the sources in which these posts are coming from. Many of the posts on Twitter and Instagram are not posted by certified surgeons. Posts advertising the results of cosmetic surgery have also increased the general pressure for others to pursue these surgeries in order to keep up with changing beauty standards in the age of social media filters. Additionally, none of the risks or recovery details are ever shared within the advertising for consumers to consider for themselves. 

 

In Abdullah Eldaly and Sarah Magdy Mashaly's (2021) article,  "The new dilemma of plastic surgery and social media: a systematic review", they hone in on two very important aspects to this rising dilemma: plastic surgery doctor's responsibility and the mental state of the patient.

 

When it comes to choosing a plastic surgeon for either a surgical or non-invasive procedure, social media platforms have become the public’s preferred source of research. According to a 2019 survey conducted by Kenneth Fan, the total number of followers on social media platforms is associated with higher Google first page placement and number of website visits for the surgeon. On the other hand, the medical school or years of practice are not, meaning that private practices are becoming more dependent on social media influencing rather than the actual expertise of the surgeon, leading to individuals accepting more risk than they may realize.

 

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When analyzing patients and their psychological reasoning behind wanting plastic surgery, the responsibilities of the doctor performing the surgery become blurred. Surgeons are expected to identify signs of mental disorders that would distort the patient's cognitive ability to make a rational decision about whether or not to go through with the surgery. Mental disorders to be on the lookout for would include, but are not limited to, "body dysmorphic disorder, polysurgical addiction, personality disorders, dysmorphophobia, or heightened narcissism not remediable with surgery". Eshiet alludes to the fact that these mental disorders would result in impaired judgment as patients push aside any possible risks of complications of the surgery making their ability to consent to surgery questionable. This is a large, but necessary responsibility placed on surgeons, especially in the increasingly filter distorted society we are living within.

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Many individuals have developed “Snapchat Dysmorphia”, a term which some doctors and scholars have used to describe patients who aim to look like their filtered selfies through cosmetic surgery. Although it could be too early to validate such a term, the rising phenomenon has attracted the attention of plastic surgeons and psychiatrists, something in which further research could diagnose and work on treating "Snapchat Dysmorphia".

 

I echo Eshiet's call for surgeons to select their cosmetic surgery patients carefully, informing and educating them of all that is involved, and warning them about how social media may generate unrealistic expectations of what can be done to patients' bodies. Ultimately, plastic surgeons should be looking to live out the "do no harm" principle of surgeons both in medicine and cosmetic surgeries. I would also add to her call in urging people seeking cosmetic surgery to do lengthy research outside of social media before consulting with a surgeon.