With technology making it easier than ever to share our image at any given moment, men and women are finding it more and more important to make sure that they are putting the best version of themselves out there for the world to see. According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), one third of all its member practices report increased patient traffic due to a desire to look better for social media. The increase in demand is seen even more right here at Beverly Hills Physicians. We’ve been making clients beautiful well before the selfie trend took off, but new technology is changing the way people seek out plastic surgery and the types of procedures they inquire about.

Here are several reasons why selfies and the internet in general are helping bring beauty into the 21st century.

1. Everyone wants to be “liked” – People are sharing all kinds of material on social media more and more each year. Currently, there are over 1.3 billion active Facebook users each month worldwide, up from around 250 million in mid-2009. A study released in March revealed that while an abundance of Facebook likes can raise someone’s self-esteem, a lack of likes on a photo or post can actually make someone feel ostracized and worse than if they didn’t post anything at all. People are becoming more and more aware that looking their best is absolutely essential to feeling confident in the internet era, and a talented cosmetic surgeon can help them achieve that.
2. “Get ready for your close up!” – Ever since the addition of front-facing cameras to cell phones, selfies have become one of the most popular types of pictures posted to social media. By nature, because they are taken only several feet from the subject, selfies are almost always close-ups that focus on the face. Accordingly, we’ve seen a particular rise in requests for surgical procedures that feature the face, including rhinoplasties and eyelid surgeries to remove tired bags under the eyes. People are realizing that a youthful looking face is the key to a confidence-boosting selfie.
3. Knowledge is power – High speed internet has ushered the world into an information age, where facts about procedures, businesses, and customer reviews are available at the click of a finger. According to the AAFPRS, 60 percent of all plastic surgery patients get their information about procedures online. Not only can patients learn the risks and benefits associated with each procedure, but they can also find out which facilities have the best reputations for success. At BHP, we’ve always been known in word-of-mouth circles as the go-to place for plastic surgical procedures, but now that the internet allows anyone curious about procedures to see before-and-after galleries, potential patients are becoming more and more aware of our abilities.