Since the arrival of social media some 15 years ago, the visibility of celebrities undergoing cosmetic surgery and procedures has grown exponentially. Procedures such as breast augmentations, facelifts or Botox that were once discreetly done – and vigorously denied – by film, TV and music stars are now broadcast and discussed openly as a way to connect with fans and followers across the world.
While social media and cosmetic procedures have affected a lot of positive change in the way we live, there are undoubtedly risks for young or vulnerable people if they are exposed to either of these two trends in the wrong way.
At Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors, we’ve been concerned for some time about the way in which social networking and cosmetic procedures have been feeding off each other, and so we’ve launched a petition to generate awareness of the potential dangers and encourage action from regulators.
How is this situation affecting mental health?
There is real evidence that the increased visibility of cosmetically-enhanced beauty standards, as portrayed by celebrities and influencers on Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube, is undermining the self-esteem of vulnerable young people and creating real issues of body confidence.
In a survey we carried out in partnership with Save Face, a government-approved register of accredited cosmetic practitioners, we found that 38% of 21 to 25-year-olds who view images that promote or demonstrate the effects of cosmetic procedures reported feeling worse about their own appearance as a result.
Additionally, the 2017 #StatusofMind report from the Royal Society for Public Health singled out Instagram as having the most negative impact on young people’s mental health of all the top five social media platforms.
Self esteem and cosmetic surgery
It’s nothing new that individuals who suffer from low self-esteem or concerns about their appearance may turn to surgical or non-surgical procedures in order to resolve the perceived issues. What is new is that since the use of social media became part of our everyday lives, the public is now bombarded with perfected images of beauty on an unprecedented scale.
In the past, of course, there were adverts and interviews in magazines as well as TV and films, but social media provides a whole new platform for young people to contend with. As a gauge of the growing size of the problem, the number of Instagram users worldwide doubled between 2016 and 2018 to one billion, of which 60% check the app daily. In January 2019, the majority of users were aged between 18 and 24 years old (31% of all female users and 34% of all males).
The issue is that this extra layer of regular, no-holds-barred access to celebrities – coupled with the rise of the ‘influencer’ and reality TV stars who use the platforms as part of their business model to generate revenue – means that young people are at risk of being continually presented with smooth, polished and cosmetically-enhanced images of beauty. This is particularly dangerous if the account holder who is posting the photo doesn’t make clear that his or her look has been achieved through filters, photoshopping or invasive procedures.
Either way, these types of photographs and videos serve to establish new beauty standards that treat cosmetic surgery as the “new normal”. This leads to men and women feeling increasingly pressured into seeking out risky and often inappropriate medical treatments in order to keep up with trends.
What are we doing to help?
Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors are determined to combat this situation and prevent it from escalating, which is why we’ve teamed up with Save Face to launch a petition urging the UK government to require Instagram to do more to protect young people from having unchecked access to content on social media that could foster interest in surgical procedures that are likely to be unsuitable for them.
Our petition proposes a range of solutions, including an age restriction of 21 on content from verified influencers that advertises or demonstrates the effects of cosmetic procedures. We also suggest the use of a voluntary hashtag, #CosmeticFilter, for account holders to use in order to flag up this kind of material for their followers.
Children as young as 13 are able to create an account on Instagram and follow whatever accounts they like. By taking the time to sign our petition, you can help to bring about change that will safeguard young people from content that creates distorted expectations and insecurities. Cosmetic surgery is an important, potentially life-changing decision and our mission is to help people make better, safer and more informed decisions at a time – and age – that is right for them, without undue outside pressure.
Does this sound like a cause worth supporting? If you think so, then join our campaign today!
By Michael Saul
About the author
Michael Saul is a partner at Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors, which was set up in 2005 as the first legal team specifically dedicated to dealing with substandard treatment as a result of negligent cosmetic surgery, and is a passionate advocate for ensuring patients are fully informed before undertaking cosmetic surgery. Michael is aware of the negative consequences of the lack of regulation in the industry, and takes issue with the practice of profits before patients and commerce before ethics.
