Selfie-obsessed youngsters favour cosmetic surgery

You may be knowing people who have opted for cosmetic procedures to smoothen out wrinkles, or shape an imperfect nose. But, in an alarming new trend, youngsters are now eager to go under the knife to achieve popularity on social networking sites via selfies.

“People want to look awesome in their selfies. They have unrealistic expectations from plastic surgeries. I have had guys asking for eyebrows like Shah Rukh Khan’s or an obese woman with a double chin wanting a sculpted jawline like Katrina Kaif’s. Also, rather than hitting the gym, youngsters want to go under the knife for abdominoplasty to ape Kareena Kapoor Khan’s figure overnight,” says dermatologist and laser surgeon Dr Deepali Bhardwaj, Skin And Hair Clinic.

From left: Lord Of The Rings-inspired elfin ears, surgically implanted heels in your feet and reptilian-esque split tongues, are some of the procedures best left ­unexplored, we say.

The trend of opting for frivolous cosmetic surgeries such as getting a fake dimple, or a ‘thigh gap’ created to look ‘perfect’ in photographs is also a disturbing one, say experts, as it speaks of low self-esteem.

“I turn away patients who come to me with such requests. My task is to correct imperfections and make a person more beautiful rather fiddle with perfect features. I’m sure they go to quacks who try pleasing their whims for the sake of money. The result can be disastrous,” warns Bhardwaj, who advises ­counselling for such people.

First Published: Jul 07, 2014 16:25 IST