SOLVED: Body Image – What is Snapchat Dismorphia?

There has been a sharp rise in the number of primarily teenagers and millennial’s requesting plastic surgery to make them look more like an image on they have created using filters on social media platforms like SnapChat.

The American Academy of Facial and Reconstructive Surgery say that in the last year 55% of plastic surgeons have been asked to make a patient look more like their selfie.  That is an increase from near 40% in 2016.

Snapchat Dismorphia is an unhealthy body image leading people to have strong desires to look like their filtered photos.

Filters can enhance your look by adjusting, skin blemishes, skin tone, wrinkles, eye brightness, jawline, hair color sharpness, nose shape, overall size (i.e. apparent weight), lip size, ear placement and much more.

The question is now does this constitute a mental illness.  It is estimated that 1 in 50 people has obsessive compulsive tendencies that cross into the clinical definition of mental illness.

This video further explains more about SnapChat Dismorphia:

REFERENCES & FOR FURTHER READING:

• Independent.co.uk/life-style/plastic-surgery-cosmetic-snapchat-teenagers-millennials-dysmorphia-bdd-a8474881.html
• Forbes.com/sites/kavinsenapathy/2016/10/11/the-truth-about-millions-with-real-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/#4184cfed2e50
• Engadget.com/2018/08/06/selfie-filters-are-driving-new-cosmetic-surgery-trends