Plastic Surgery is Up Because People are Horrified By How They Look in Facebook Photos

Now, that's scary.  Thanks to social media, especially Facebook, we have this weird desire to keep checking our status to see if someone has commented on a picture or post you've done.  It's like, we are constantly searching for acceptance.  I'm just as guilty, and even more now that I've been creating funny pictures for our website.  If something is shared that I've made, I know that I've done a good job and it's validated by the "share", "like" or "lol" comment underneath.

I can't imagine however, being sooo wrapped up in Facebook that I'd consider changing my appearance.  But, some are.  

Remember when you DIDN'T see new photos of yourself on a daily or weekly basis.  We took photos for special occasions and then had to wait for the film to  be developed (unless you had a Polaroid).  Yes, we could look in the mirror, but that's not the same.

But today, we see photos of ourselves CONSTANTLY and according to Dr. Adam Schaffner, a NY plastic surgeon... that's SHREDDING our self-confidence.  He says plastic surgery numbers keep rising and the reason is, Facebook!

"With a good degree of frequency, people will come in and say, 'I saw myself in the mirror but I didn't really notice it until I saw myself on Facebook or on my iPhone.'  "When you look in the mirror, you're seeing the mirror image of yourself.  But when you see yourself on social media, you're seeing yourself the way the world sees you."

Dr. Yael Halass is another plastic surgeon who agrees.  She says, quote, "I'd say maybe 80% of the time patients whip out a photo of themselves on an iPhone and say, 'See this?  This is what I'm talking about.'"

Statistics:  Cosmetic surgeries were up 2% in 2011 despite the economy.  Facelifts were up 5% and chin augmentations were up 71% . . . both of those are common surgeries people want after seeing unflattering Facebook photos.