Nip/tuck: Mirror Mirror on the wall

Face fixes for Facebook, the ‘like’ syndrome.

NEW DEHLI: Here is an interesting piece of news for all those who thought Botox jabs and nose jobs were only for the aging. An increasing number of young girls and boys are opting for non-surgical treatment to get that dreamy face, in order to maximise the ‘likes’ on their pictures on social networking websites such as Facebook.

From Rhinoplasty — a non-surgical nose job involving an injection — to Botox, Juvederm and laser treatments, young boys and girls are opting for all of the above to correct the shape of their nose, eyebrows and lips.

Nikita Sharma, 21, who used Rhinoplasty to correct the shape of her nose, talks openly about the benefits of her new look.

“Flaunting physical attributes have become an integral part of one’s life. Websites like Facebook provide so many opportunities; modeling, acting and even marriage proposals,” she says. “So, if I upload my best picture with perfect features, it does no harm. I am very happy after getting Rhinoplasty done.”

This trend is confined not just to girls but boys as well and they are quite upfront about it.

Mumbai-based Arpit Sharma, a theatre person, used Botox to get arched eyebrows. “When you act, you need to have a specific expression on your face,” he says. “In a couple of months, I play a negative role in a play. I require a cunning look, so I got my eyebrows lifted with the help of Botox. It’s not expensive or time consuming.”

This is quite the trend now as cosmetic dermatologist Vandana Chatrath says, “These days, everyone wants to be popular. Most of the youngsters are not happy with their features. In order to get an enhanced look, they opt for non-surgical procedures.”

“Girls usually opt for treatments like nose corrections, lip enhancements, eyebrow lifts and cheek enhancements whereas laser treatments are popular among boys,” she said.

Dermatologist Swati Srivastava of beauty and wellness chain VLCC, Mumbai, adds that everyone wants “a perfect body and for that they go for magical and effective treatments like Botox and Juvederm.” Juvederm is an injectable facial filler, used by dermatological and plastic surgeons to soften deep folds and reduce wrinkles.

The young don’t believe in hiding the effects. “In some cases, they even upload their photos before and after surgery on social networking sites,” Srivastava said.

The treatment varies with age. For instance, those between the ages of 18 to 25 opt for lip enhancement and chemical peels; those between the ages of 26 to 35 endorse treatments that promise a youthful look.

“Most of these treatments are lunch-time procedures done with injections, so it doesn’t take more than 15 to 20 minutes,” said Srivastava.

The youth looks up to popular Bollywood stars and wants to look like them. So, there are plenty of takers for Katrina Kaif’s lips and jaw line, Kareena Kapoor’s high cheek bones and Shilpa Shetty’s hour-glass figure. “The boys want a jaw line like Hrithik Roshan’s and Salman Khan’s six-pack abs,” reveals Srivastava.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2012.          

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