Social Media Influencers
It’s not surprising with all of the viral beauty trends and misinformation about at home and professional aesthetic treatments and skin care that patients are in a state of confusion. The advent of prolific social media postings have significantly impacted beauty standards and it has changed aesthetic standards as we once understood them to be.
The most obvious example is of course lip enhancement, Lip size, shape and projection is determined by balance from other facial features as well as the lips themselves. Caucasians lips appear more natural and undetectable when the upper lip is kept to one third the size of the bottom lip. While Asians and African Americans preferred natural lip ratio is 1:1
With the influence of social media we are seeing larger, more voluminous, more projected lips and new lip shapes.
These constant and consistent posts on social media of unrealistic results often alters our images of what is normal when it comes to beauty
It is important we understand these images are not being publicized by experienced health care practitioners but by influencers and celebrities who do not have the education or experience in medical aesthetics.
They are not qualified to make many of the statements they do on social media.
What they are experienced with is photo filters and other computer applications that change the appearance of treatment results often making them aesthetically unattainable. A tweak here and there with photoshop can make a huge difference in outcomes. Patients will then compare themselves to these results or expect these results when seeking treatment. This is unrealistic and often unattainable or financially prohibitive for the average person seeking aesthetic rejuvenation.
I tell my patients, you cannot expect to achieve an Angelina Jolie lip if you lack the structure naturally and/or the facial features and contours to support the shape and size of her lips.
Trust in your Health Care Provider. Allow them to guide you and recommend the very best plan of care that’s in your best interest
The next time you are pining for what ever the “celebrity du jour” is posting, take it with a grain of salt. It’s probably more “smoke and mirrors” behind the scenes than you know!