A new survey of men and women in Dallas, Texas, reveals nearly 75% of adults are considering or have had a cosmetic procedure on the face or neck. The remaining 25% of the 160 Texans surveyed are undecided, which suggests most people in Dallas have a never-say-never attitude about having nips and tucks, according to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS).
What’s driving the city’s willingness and desire to have cosmetic procedures? The survey indicates selfies and other social media images are putting on display and magnifying perceived imperfections. In fact, 22% of respondents indicated they were frustrated and motivated to aesthetically change because of their pictures on social media.
“Over the last five years, the selfie craze has exploded across all age groups,” says AAFPRS President Stephen S. Park, M.D. “Photographs on social media can deliver a distorted image of reality, holding up a magnifying glass to flaws, real or perceived. This is causing plastic surgery requests to skyrocket in both teens as well as adults.”
Interestingly, men, at 31%, were more concerned about looking better in their selfies than women, at 19%.
Thirteen percent of respondents said an upcoming major life event, such as a wedding, fueled their cosmetic surgery desires, while 15% were motivated to go under the knife, laser, needle and more in order to remain professionally competitive. Nearly a third of men said they considered facial plastic surgery to stay competitive in the workforce, compared to 10% of women.
Forty percent of those surveyed said they’re most bothered by their necks, with eyes at a close second, at 39%. Lips came in third at 33%, followed by noses and foreheads.
“The recent FDA approval of the ‘fat melting’ drug Kybella [Kythera Biopharmaceuticals] is spurring a surge in requests for procedures to improve neck contours,” says Dr. Park.
These survey results usher the AAFPRS’s upcoming annual meeting in Dallas, October 1 through 3, 2015. The scientific program will include updates on surgical and nonsurgical rejuvenation procedures for the face and neck, including Kybella; Halo (Sciton) a hybrid fractional laser for deep dermal rejuvenation; Infini (Lutronic), high-intensity focused radiofrequency for non-invasive wrinkle reduction; and more.
