Navigating the Realities Beyond Social Media Perfection

Growing up immersed in the digital age and social media, Chloe Manson, a young woman, grapples with the challenge of self-acceptance, leading her to explore cosmetic procedures to discover a sense of self-love.

“Throughout my upbringing, facing my reflection in the mirror, I often questioned why I didn’t resemble the sought-after women that are showcased all over social media. I picked apart every aspect I deemed imperfect about myself, from my skin to my body and hair, fostering a cycle of self-doubt.

“I knew that as soon as I turned 18, I was going to fix myself. I wanted to be loved as much as the women I saw on Instagram. Little did I know that I’d find myself trapped in a relentless cycle. Each correction unveils a new flaw, leaving me wondering: When will I find true happiness in myself?”

This is the reality of life for not only Chloe, but a large handful of young females growing up in today’s age. Have the unrealistic beauty standards crafted by social media and the pressure to conform to these standards led to this? Let’s find out together.

Social media platforms have emerged as powerful influencers in shaping societal norms and individual perceptions of beauty. The constant exposure to idealized and curated images of beauty on platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok can lead to feelings of inadequacy, body dissatisfaction, and low self-esteem.

According to the annual audit published by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), there was a 102% increase in cosmetic treatments in 2022. This has since been named the ‘Cosmetic Surgery Boom’.

Is this rise attributed to the highly promoted influencer lifestyle?

Many influencers appear to be relatable and just like ordinary individuals, posting their every move. This makes it easy for young people to be sucked into a false reality.

Followers often overlook the fact that most influencers craft idyllic lives on social media. They project the perfect façade leaving us questioning why our lives or appearances don’t align with theirs.

The constant posts with flawless hair, impeccable bodies, proportionate features and smooth skin gives the impression that it is necessary to attain a similar look to achieve success, popularity, or happiness, especially among young audiences.

Consequently, individuals are relying on filters that are portraying a substantially altered image of themselves to achieve the ‘perfect’ skin, ‘perfect’ body, and ‘perfect’ features.

In a study carried out by the University of London’s Gender and Sexualities Research Centre, 90% of young women reported using filters or editing their photos. This is likely to have a negative impact on users’ self-esteem as well as their mental health.

Image Credit: Fix the photo

Authors of the JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery journal stated, “The pervasiveness of these filtered images can take a toll on one’s self-esteem, make one feel inadequate for not looking a certain way in the real world, and may even act as a trigger and lead to body dysmorphic disorder.”

This, in turn, prompts individuals to seek cosmetic procedures to fix their insecurities fuelled by the distorted reality presented all over social media.

Goals Plastic Surgery noted that during plastic surgery consultations, patients now bring in photos of influences, celebrities or their own edited images as reference for the desired outcome of their procedures.

Expressing genuine concern, Dr Tamara Griffiths from the British Association of Dermatologists notes a troubling rise in the use of Botox-style and dermal filler injections among children and teenagers. And, according to a survey conducted by Vice UK, a notable perception among young people is that receiving filler is on par with the routine nature of getting a haircut or manicure.

Image Credit: Save Face

While some individuals may benefit from cosmetic procedures, others encounter adverse effects, making any type of treatment a dangerous practice.

Niamh O Conner, an influencer with 163K followers on Instagram and 402.6K followers on TikTok, opens about her journey with fillers. Rather than concealing it from the world and presenting a facade of natural beauty, she stands out as an influencer who candidly shares her journey in adapting her appearance. It was driven by a desire to conform to societal standards of beauty. However, what initially seemed like a confidence boosting venture, very quickly become a harrowing experience, leaving her profoundly traumatized for life.

Soon after opting for filler to enhance the size of her buttocks, Niamh O Conner found herself grappling with the onset of cellulitis. Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper layers of the skin and the underlying tissue; it can be serious if not treated promptly. The infection develops suddenly and can spread through the body quickly. If severe, it can be life threatening.

She revealed, “12 hours after the procedure I started shivering uncontrollably, but I was roasting. I had a high fever, like 38/39, for days, but I felt freezing cold. Red blotches then began forming in the area that I received filler and the pain just got worse and worse, to the point of excruciating. I was also vomiting; I couldn’t even hold down water.

Image Credit: @niamhoconnnor

“Flash forward to a couple days later and I am now being treated in hospital. However, I am yet to see improvements. The infected area feels like 3rd degree burns, I can’t even touch it. It’s all lumpy and feels very tight, like there’s loads of fluid underneath. The pain is like a searing pain, it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before honestly.

“This has been such a wakeup call for me. I will never put another thing into my body, and I’m so sorry for ever even doing it because I realise now how bad of an example that is. Imagine someone else was going through this because they were influenced by me.

“There is so much pressure on young woman to look a certain way, social media has made us all so easily influenced and I take full responsibility for my part in that too. I just hope that sharing my story will open the eyes of people to the risks and how not worth it, it is. You are perfect how you are; we all are.”

Many young individuals are now seeking solace in fillers to address their insecurities, drawn by the accessibility and significantly lower costs compared to surgical alternatives. However, experts caution that cellulitis linked to fillers pose an exceptionally dangerous threat. The migratory nature of fillers, refusing to confine itself to a singular location, intensifies the challenge of controlling infections. While cellulitis can be contracted through any skin opening, the risk escalates significantly when attributed to fillers, adding an extra layer of danger to this complication.

In the age of flawless images saturating social media, it’s crucial to recognise that not everything is as perfect as it appears. Niamh O Conner’s story serves as a stark reminder that the allure of enhancement comes with potential risks that may not be worth taking. We often think such incidents won’t happen to us, until they do.

If you are contemplating a procedure, ensure it’s a well-informed decision rather than succumbing to trends set by online influencers. Your journey should be about personal choice, careful consideration, and a genuine understanding of what it means for you.