Kim Kardashian’s eyes and jawline, Angelina Jolie’s pouty lips and chiseled cheekbones and Beyoncé’s facial structure are among the most coveted celebrity features. There’s nothing new about celebrity-inspired cosmetic surgery and the trend continues to be popular. In fact, according to a report, two recent surveys indicate that an increasing number of men and women are going under the knife to emulate the features of their favorite stars.
AAFPRS survey on Celebrity-Inspired Procedures
The annual report of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) reports an impressive 13 percent increase in requests for celebrity-inspired cosmetic surgical procedures in 2014, up from just 3 percent in 2013 and 7 percent in 2012. The largest community and resource for cosmetic surgery research, RealSelf.com also listed the celebrities that were most often discussed in posters with regard to popularly searched cosmetic procedures.
Expert analysis of the findings of the AAFPRS survey revealed the following:
- People seem to believe that looking like a star will bring them the power that the person has in attracting people and succeeding in a career. Physical beauty is seen as the pathway to the coveted lifestyle of beauty.
- In most cases, plastic surgery is inspired by the glamorous photographs of these stars posted online.
- Social media platforms like Instagram, increased video uploads and selfie sticks are practices that make people more critical of their looks and facial imperfections like a bump on the nose or acne. This drives them to have cosmetic procedures to correct these flaws.
- In 2014, women constituted 82 percent of total surgical and non-invasive procedures. Facelifts, eyelid surgery and laser skin resurfacing were among the most popular facial treatments.
- Botox maintained the lead among most common non-surgical options along with hyaluronic acid fillers, laser skin resurfacing, and peels.
- As much as 87 percent of plastic surgeons now perform reconstructive procedures related to skin cancer.
The main factor driving the demand for celeb-inspired cosmetic treatments seems to be the beautiful glossy images of these stars on popular social networking sites. However, what people need to remember is that in most cases, these pictures do not reflect reality. As the president of AAFPRS cautions, "Celebrity photos are often so re-touched that their images are distorted – which can result in unrealistic expectations that propel consumers to seek excessive or extreme surgeries".
If you are looking to have cosmetic surgery, it is very important to have realistic expectations. Don’t expect cookie-cutter results and remember that what works for another person, may not work for you. Also, when it comes to emulating photos posted online, proceed with caution as they may not be realistic. Consult an experienced plastic surgeon who can work with you to improve and enhance your own features.