‘Snapchat dysmorphia’ is real
Gone are the days where people
take pictures of Julia Roberts and George Clooney to a plastic surgeon’s office
and ask for a Hollywood smile.
Now people want to look like the edited version of themselves they see on the social media app, Snapchat.
Snapchat is a multimedia messaging app used globally where you can share photos, videos, text, and drawings, and put filters on your face that often make your eyes appear bigger, make your blemishes disappear, and even leave you looking like a cute dog. It was good fun until doctors started noticing a trend they now call ‘Snapchat dysmorphia’.
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It is causing concern, as it will affect people’s self-esteem in the long run.
Liesl Laurie explained exactly what happens to your face when you apply a Snapchat filter. High cheekbones, bigger eyes, a sharp, thin nose, and smooth skin. Martin Bester then explained the new trend as… well, you’ll have to hear for yourself:
An article was recently published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery
by researchers from Boston University School of Medicine’s Department of
Dermatology. The article warns of wanting to attain "an unattainable look" and the dangers that come with it.
“This is an alarming trend because those filtered selfies often present an unattainable look and are blurring the line of reality and fantasy for these patients,” the article states.
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Would you ever want to permanently look like you do after applying a Snapchat filter? Let us know below.