Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have become an integral part of our lives, allowing us to stay connected with people all over the world and digitally document all the events in our daily lives. Social media users post photos of everything from their meals to their pets, and especially plenty of self-portraits. In fact, it seems that these “selfies” have led to an increase in plastic surgery procedures for those who want to improve their online appearance.
The Social Media Effect
It’s said that Americans spend an average of three hours each day using social media sites, which is amazing when you consider that Twitter didn’t even exist ten years ago. Fueling the fire behind this boom in social media use is the fact that almost everyone has a smartphone equipped with a high-quality camera. This is where the selfie comes in.
When taking a selfie with a smartphone and posting it online, you’re posting a live, un-retouched, close-up photo of yourself, usually in HD. Many people quickly become their own worst critic after reviewing these photos and begin to develop a mental laundry list of things they’d like to improve or change. Not coincidentally, our plastic surgery practice has noticed an increase in patients saying they want to look their best in selfies and online profiles.
Updating More Than Your Profile
Your profile pics—and selfies—represent your online persona. Dissatisfaction with how these images translate to an online presence is leading more patients to ask for help from plastic surgeons to improve their image. From facelifts and breast implants to nonsurgical treatments like BOTOX®, cosmetic procedures just might be the mainstream answer for truly superior selfies.
Dr. Glenn M Davis knows that not every patient has the same goals, and applies his years of experience and extensive education to create results that are personal and natural. Focusing mainly on facial plastic surgery procedures in the Raleigh, NC area, Dr. Davis also offers a selection of enhancements for the body and breasts, including abdominoplasty, liposuction, and combination breast lift and augmentation.
Dr. Davis received his medical doctorate from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, and trained in general surgery at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. After refining and focusing his surgical technique in a plastic surgery residency at the Eastern Virginia Graduate School of Medicine in Norfolk, VA, Dr. Davis developed his skills as Assistant Chief of Plastic Surgery at the National Naval Medical Center. Dr. Davis is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, is committed to utilizing the most up-to-date and successful techniques for each of his patients, and serves in leadership roles in multiple local and national plastic surgery organizations. A past president of 3 medical surgical organizations including the Raleigh Academy of Medicine, Dr. Davis has also chaired a number of committees for the American Society of Plastic surgeons, and continues to serve as Clinical Associate PRofessor of Plastic Surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
