Facebook facelifts: Going under knife for ‘likes’

You will scarcely believe this but there are people in India who <g data-gr-id="148">are</g> undergoing cosmetic surgery and skin treatment to post a perfect picture on Facebook. 

“Facebook facelift”, a term coined by the doctors, is a trend gaining pace in the country with people aiming for more ‘likes’ and ‘comments’ on their profile pictures. 

Various doctors with whom a news agency spoke <g data-gr-id="152">said people</g> these days don’t mind spending lakhs of rupees and undergoing multiple surgeries to get a “perfect photogenic” face. 

“Everyone wants to look young and, in the age of social media, there is a craze among the netizens to look better in profile photos and selfies, by opting for facelift procedures,” Anup Dhir, MD, cosmetic and plastic surgery at the Apollo Hospital, told IANS. 

Asked who -- men or women -- seek these facelifts, Dhir said: “Both men and women come, but there are more females than men, although males are catching up fast.” 

This comes as a surprise in the country where, till a few years ago, people considered social networking sites like Facebook and Google+ a mere “time pass”.  Dhir said that for real change, patients have to undergo three interventions, with each procedure costing up to Rs 30,000. But he cautions that a facelift is not suggested for all.  Navin Taneja, director of The National Skin Centre, said that the trend is likely to see a major surge in the coming days with internet penetration in the country constantly increasing with every passing day. 

“The trend has increased 200% in the past three years. It will keep growing with the time and advancement in technology,” Taneja said, adding “people are getting more conscious about their looks and they want to look their best in each and every event.” 

He said it was not only the young who come for such a procedure, but people over 50 also opt for it. 

“At our centre, the common requirement is of <g data-gr-id="221">non-surgical</g> facelift, wrinkle reduction, treatment for <g data-gr-id="31">under-eye</g> darkening, pigmentation, lip job, glowing and rejuvenating skin procedure,” he added.