People pursue plastic surgery because they want to look better, both for themselves and to others. It could be a breast augmentation to enhance one’s breasts, self-confidence and sex life; liposuction to appear more sculpted, shapely and refined or even a rhinoplasty to reduce the size of the nose, possibly remove a hump and balance it with the rest of one’s face.
Today, many people are specifically seeking to look better – for online purposes. That is, they want their appearance or even just their (facial) image, to be optimized for internet exposure. Rather than their primary goal being just to look better, they want to appear more attractive specifically for the digital world such as on Skype, FaceTime, Facebook, Instagram and even dating websites.
Why would people even request cosmetic surgery for what seems to be a relatively small slice of life?
Part of it is that while engaged on these sites, people are also seeing their appearance whether they are in photos on Facebook or Instagram or photo icons or video feed that doesn’t provide the most complimentary viewing angles.
So, “vanity” strikes.
The procedures most commonly requested for “digital” enhancement involve the face and its structures. A chin augmentation, using an implant which can provide for a strong lower face and overall facial harmony, is a commonly sought after procedure for improving one’s online appearance. For the nose, a frequent request is for narrowing, removal of a hump or refinement of the tip by means of a rhinoplasty.
General facial cosmetic enhancement can involve fairly minor procedures such as by using dermal fillers like Juvederm®, Restylane® and Radiesse® in order to fill in or flatten out creases, lines and wrinkles or to provide volume to create youthful contours and prominences such as of the cheekbones. Botox® can be used to ablate the crow’s feet area and the deep vertical forehead line(s) accentuated with frowning but often noticeably present even at rest.
Of course, more aggressive facial enhancement procedures can be pursued in order to optimize one’s online image. These can include CO2 laser facial skin rejuvenation, chemical peels, cosmetic eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) and even facelifts and forehead lifts.
If you are interested in improving the appearance of your face, nose, chin, etc., whether it is for online reasons only or because you want to look better in all situations, make sure that you thoroughly discuss all your goals and concerns in a consultation with a reputable board certified plastic surgeon.
For more information on a chin augmentation, rhinoplasty, facelift, dermal fillers or for any other plastic surgery procedure that I perform, please call my office at 480-451-3000.
Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona