TikTok's Influence on Plastic Surgery and Mental Health PDF

Tiktok and youth platform users - TikTok has over 1 billion active users globally making it one of the most influential social media platforms. - Of these users, 62% are aged 10-29. - According to Pew Research, TikTok has become one of the most used platforms for Gen Z* ,...

Tiktok and youth platform users - TikTok has over 1 billion active users globally making it one of the most influential social media platforms. - Of these users, 62% are aged 10-29. - According to Pew Research, TikTok has become one of the most used platforms for Gen Z* , with teens using it as their primary form of entertainment, social interaction/to connect with friends, and even for education purposes. → So that’ s right in our 15-18 year old window. Tiktok effect - The seemingly direct relationship between TikTok and plastic surgery’s popularity - direct correlation between the request for certain procedures and when influencers actively promote them - recent popularity of "Barbie Botox " after it trended on TikTok - 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 Tiktok dysmorphia - TikTok dysmorphia is understood as a modern form of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) which has been exacerbated or influenced by content on platforms like TikTok - TikTok dysmorphia explicitly points to the negative impact of constantly comparing oneself to the filtered, curated (e.g. the FYP), and often edited TikTok images/videos can have on a person ' s self-image and mental health - especially those who are in a formative life stage. - obsessive preoccupation with perceived flaws or imperfections in one ' s appearance, especially after continued exposure to idealized beauty standard Physical impacts of plastic surgery - Complications related to anesthesia including pneumonia, blood clots and in some (rarer) cases, death. - Scarring. - Infection where the incisions were made during surgery. - Fluid buildup under the skin. - Mild bleeding - which may require another surgery. - Heavy bleeding - which may cause you to need donor blood. - Separation of the surgical wound - which may require additional/further surgery to fix. Loss of feeling or tingling from nerve damage, which may be permanent Mental health implications - Individuals with existing mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety, are more likely to experience worsening symptoms after having aesthetic procedures. Influencer accountability - Ethical promotio of srugies  - Informed consent - factual information about procedures and the risks, costs, recovery - physical and mental health implications - Transparency - Clearly disclose if they are being paid or otherwise compensated (e.g. free/cheap procedures) by companies/clinics to promote the procedure(s). - Platform accountability - Require stricter platform policies on TikTok itself (in addition to those on individual influencers) which restrict what can be shared regarding surgical/cosmetic procedures and implement plastic or cosmetic surgeryspecific guidelines.