Is Facebook Changing our Faces?

Facebook Changes our Faces?
Recent evaluations of the numbers of cosmetic procedures performed shows an interesting trend away from surgical body altering procedures while more surgeries are being performed on the face and neck.
Why are patients increasingly interested in facial plastic surgery?
While no one can be certain, there is increasing evidence that social media is bringing more of us closer together. In addition, most sites incorporate frequent facial and social photographs into communication.
It is certainly easy to understand that facebook, instagram, and other similar sites make publishing of our photos a very simple and public affair.
In addition, the popularity of smart phones, tablets, and other mobile digital devices make snapping a picture, well, a snap!
Data released by the British Association of Aesthetic Surgeons showed a 14% drop in body plastic surgeries performed in 2012. Patients moved toward procedures that decrease aging of the face. Facelifts and brow lifts increased last year 14% and 17% respectively. Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) and fat sculpting of the face both increased 13%.
Non-invasive procedures of the face such as Botox, Dysport, and fillers (juvederm, restylane, perlane) continue to rise in popularity as they offer solid, safe, reproducible results with no down-time.
In a recent published study from the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery, the number of patients that reported social media impacted their decision for or education regarding facial plastic surgery was up 31% in the year 2012.
All indications are that facebook is changing the way we think about how we want to “face” our own future.