(Image courtesy of AAFPRS)

According to Alicia Eler and her book, The Selfie Generation, selfies are more than just an image, they are a mirror into how we live today. The social media selfie is an aspect of how people visually communicate  and its impact has been noticed by the doctors who offer services that create the idealized representation some women and men want to see of themselves.

The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) recently released its annual survey outcomes, which spotlight the previous year’s most impactful statistics and trends in aesthetics. This year’s results reveal that in 2019, 72% of AAFPRS members reported patients seeking cosmetic procedures to look better for their selfies was up 15% from 2018.

Whether you call it the “Kardashian Effect,” “Snapchat Dysmorphia” or the “Glow-Up” challenge, every trend points to these effects trickling down to consumer behavior – resulting in an overall 6% increase in facial plastic surgery procedures in 2019 compared to 2018. The average number of non-surgical procedures also rose by 13% as compared to 2018. It follows that the most requested celebrity looks link back to two women who have undeniable strongholds in Instagram’s Top 20 Most Followed list.

AAFPRS members believe makeup billionaire Kylie Jenner and reality star Kim Kardashian are the celebrities who most influenced cosmetic surgery requests for women in 2019.

“The dramatic jump in all of the numbers in just one year is quite shocking,” says Mary Lynn Moran, MD, AAFPRS President. “The technology within the industry is improving at an accelerated pace, making less invasive options with little to no downtime more accessible and enticing.

 “We can also attribute the dramatic rise in facial plastic surgery interest to the increasing age and purchasing power of Millennials. We know this generation is extremely knowledgeable and sophisticated when it comes to the latest advances in aesthetics and view taking care of their skin and their appearance as an essential reflection of their health and beauty.”

The results back this up. In 2019, 74% of facial plastic surgeons reported an increase in minimally invasive procedures (neurotoxins, fillers, skin treatments) in patients under age 30. This year’s survey revealed a 32% increase in this category since 2016 (56 percent to 74 percent, respectively).