Rise and SHINE with Aluram
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
How TikTok is Influencing Plastic Surgery
Social media and how we view ourselves through the selfie lens is having a huge impact on requests for plastic surgery according to the profession's leading organization.
by Staff
July 20, 2022
3 min to read
By now we’re all familiar with the impact of online filters on beauty trends, which have resulted in an ensuing influx of requests at the facial plastic surgeon’s office. “Selfie-awareness,” first coined by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) has since morphed into everything from “Snapchat dysmorphia” to “Instagram face,” the “ZOOM Boom effect” and now the latest…“TikTok Face.”
The pressures of a virtual lifestyle have had a huge impact on the way we view ourselves according to AAFPRS facial plastic surgeons. Looking better in selfies continues to be a top rising trend as indicated by 77 percent of AAFPRS members in this year’s annual member survey. However, it’s worth exploring the nuances of TikTok’s enormous influence on self esteem and aesthetics.
From taping to reduce wrinkles to contouring with sunscreen, have TikTok trends gone too far?
Dr. Corey Maas, president of AAFPRS, shares, “Unlike its predecessors, TikTok makes those static filters fluid, further blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. With a single click, jaws and noses can be slimmed, eyes enlarged and reshaped, lips volumized, and so on. TikTok technology has become so advanced, that a makeup filter can smooth pores and add lashes while remaining nearly undetectable to the untrained eye, especially when in movement.”
The impact of video on our level of self-scrutiny is undeniable. The 2021 AAFPRS survey detailed an enormous increase in the trend for people seeking procedures to look better on screen. To illustrate, 79 percent of facial plastic surgeons identify patients seeking procedures for an improved appearance on video conferencing as a rising trend, compared to only 16 percent the previous year.
AAFPRS members report that the total number of surgical and non-surgical facial plastic surgery treatments is up dramatically. An estimated 1.4 million surgical and non-surgical face, head and neck procedures have been done in the past year, with AAFPRS members performing an average of 600 more procedures than they did in 2020, a 40 percent increase.
TikTok-influenced or not, Dr. Maas reminds all patients to select a physician based on their qualifications. Credentials, knowledge and experience have always been important when it comes to choosing a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, and they matter even more now. Board-certified facial plastic surgeons specialize in surgery of the face, head and neck. To find an AAFPRS member in your area click here.
ABOUT THE AAFPRS: The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is the world’s largest specialty association for facial plastic surgery. It represents more than 2,200 facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons throughout the world. The AAFPRS is a National Medical Specialty Society of the American Medical Association (AMA), and holds an official seat in both the AMA House of Delegates and the American College of Surgeons board of governors. AAFPRS members are board certified surgeons whose focus is surgery of the face, head, and neck (inclusive of Rhinoplasty and Facial Rejuvenation). More information at www.facemd.org.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Wellness
Wellness Watch: Expert Picks & Curated Essentials
Explore this curated selection of standout brands and essential products shaping today’s growing wellness and spa industry.
Shampoo, Rinse, Repeat: Salon Clients Face a Water Cycle Crisis of Mineral Buildup on Hair
Neutralizing the damaging effects of water benefits the hair from texture to shine to color longevity, and it’s the science behind Malibu C products.
Sponsored by Malibu Wellness
The Invisible Hazard in Every Nail Salon and How to Fight It
From acrylic monomers to airborne bio-dust, the air inside a nail salon carries risks most professionals never see coming. Aerovex Systems reveals the source-capture and room-purification strategies that are setting a new standard for salon safety.
Sponsored by Aerovex Systems
Stylists “Relish” the Opportunity to Prioritize Guests’ Scalp Health
Good hair starts at the scalp. But most salons aren’t offering services or products that address scalp health. Relish, a new product line from the founders of Signature Formulations, has everything salons need to deliver an effective head spa service and offer guests a robust at-home scalp care line.
Resolutions Rarely Work: Try a 'Life Switch'
A new book by Joel Steele shows that the most powerful change people can make is to think differently if they want different results. The author believes in the 'Life Switch' so fervently that he's willing to donate $1 million from book sales when he sells his millionth copy.
Harness the Power of Cytogen Masque: How Regenerative Science Is Transforming Salon Skin Treatments
In an era where clients demand visible results with minimal recovery time, salons and spas are redefining what professional skincare means.
Botox Still Tops the World’s Most-Searched Aesthetic Treatments as “Natural but Enhanced” Trend Surges
New global search data from beauty and wellness booking platform Fresha reveals that Botox remains the world’s most in-demand aesthetic treatment in 2025—but regenerative “tweakments” like polynucleotide injections, thread lifts and IV drips are seeing explosive growth across key markets.
New Book Challenges America's Mental Health Paradigm by Exploring 'Spiritual Emergency'
As rates of anxiety, depression, and substance use continue to climb across the U.S., conversations around mental health are more urgent than ever—yet one crucial perspective remains missing. In her captivating new book, Aymie Daniels introduces the little-known concept of “Spiritual Emergency” and opens a timely conversation about how America understands (and often mislabels) extreme psychological states.
A Blueprint for Living with Purpose in a World that Often Makes No Sense
Author and Lifestyle Coach Mark Reinisch's new book challenges the outdated 'work ethic' model, which values success over health, happiness, and the soul. His antidote: wellness ethic lifestyle design--a bold, practical approach to building a life that works for you, on your terms.
by Stacey Soble
Is It Hot Enough for You?
Water is a vital part of almost every process in the human body. Our Wellness Blogger Mary Wilson shows you why staying hydrated is so important and offers helpful guidelines on how to do it.
Bringing Affordable Wellness to Gen Z Consumers
Located in downtown Denver, Sway Wellness Spa integrates the latest technology into services, offers accessible memberships, and brings a community setting to younger generations who yearn for a wellness experience that is not like their mothers'.
by Stacey Soble
Spa Day, Safe Day: Stop Fungal Infections in Their Tracks
As a spa or salon professional, your clients expect more than just beauty—they expect safety, hygiene, and peace of mind. Fungal infections like Athlete’s Foot and Nail Fungus are more common than you think, especially in environments where tools and footbaths are reused without proper sanitation. This blog covers how to stop these issues before they start, using proven infection prevention strategies for salons and spas.
Energy Healing 101
As the kids head back to school and the seasons shift, it might be time to clear your energy. Our Wellness Blogger Mary Wilson talks about why it's important and illustrates some of the different methods involved.
Healthy Summer Eating: 7 Success Hacks and 7 Meal Prep Tips
Do summer barbeques and sweet treats to beat the heat have you relaxing your healthy eating goals? Here comes our Wellness Blogger Mary Wilson to the rescue with some success hacks and meal prep tips that take advantage of the season's bounty.
A Simplified Approach to Wellness Using the 80/20 Rule
A new book, The Wellness Ethic, shares a game-changing method for thriving in life.
Meditation for Beginners
This month, our Wellness Blogger Mary Wilson answers a number of questions about meditation and helps you get started.