Video above: Influencer, Kurt Coleman, reveals why he gets cosmetic procedures.
At a dinner party recently, my friend Kaity whispered, “I’ve been staring at my face in Zoom meetings and I look tired. I’m considering Botox. What are the risks?”
I shouldn’t have been surprised; Kaity isn’t alone in thinking cosmetic procedures could fix Zoom-face-fatigue. Our one in three Australians have new concerns about their appearance since the pandemic began.
What’s more, Kaity is in the primary demographic: . And she lives in Australia, where we have the . We spend on cosmetic procedures per year – a figure expected to increase.
For most people, cosmetic procedures improved self-esteem, confidence and . I never thought Kaity was shy, or had self-esteem issues, but she told me she’s different at work and after the last year she craves some self-care.
However, for a significant minority, there are negative outcomes. So before deciding if it was right for Kaity, she needed to consider a few things:
1. What type of cosmetic procedure?
Major cosmetic procedures (“cosmetic surgery”) involve cutting the skin, such as for facelifts or breast augmentation. These are conducted under anaesthetic by medical doctors bound by .
Minor cosmetic procedures, such as fillers and botox, are different. There is no anaesthetic, or cutting the skin, although they may involve . Fillers involve injecting subtances under the surface of the skin to add volume, while botox is a drug that relaxes the muscle to reduce wrinkles.
The category of minor cosmetic procedures also includes microdermabrasion, which removes superficial layers of dead skin cells to “polish” the skin.
2. What provider do you choose?
Minor cosmetic procedures aren’t regulated in Australia and can be administered by doctors, nurses, dentists or beauticians. They aren’t funded by Medicare, so the outcomes are not monitored.
Concern about shonky operators prompted a warning from NSW Health Commission , with a number of women experiencing significant harm.
So it’s essential to choose a reputable practitioner. But how do you find one?
A range of registered and unregistered providers offer minor cosmetic procedures.
Providers of minor cosmetic procedures don’t require registration. But if you choose someone registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (), you know you’re being treated by a practitioner who is bound to minimum professional standards of safety and patient care.
If you’re unsure, you can always ask your GP and check for verified reviews of your preferred cosmetic practitioner.
3. How much does it cost?
The cost of minor cosmetic procedures range up to thousands of dollars per session. One session lasts for about four months so must be repeated, making them an ongoing cost.
Luckily Kaity could afford it, but there are of cosmetic customers going without food to pay for procedures, and feeling the need to go back for more and more.
Minor cosmetic procedures shouldn’t cause financial strain. If it would cause Kaity financial pressure, she should not go ahead.
4. What are the side effects?
The possible side effects vary depending on the procedure and may include:
- pain
- swelling or bruising at the injection site
- infections
- dry eyes or throat
- headaches or flu-like symptoms
- muscle stiffness.
They’re usually not long-lasting.
5. What could go wrong?
Botox and dermal fillers can be administered incorrectly, resulting in “droopy eyelid”, “cockeyed eyebrows”, odd lumps or scarring.
Rashes or bleeding are possible, as is necrosis, where skin cells die. There are also reports of blurred vision and even blindness.
It’s assumed these are rare, but given the lack of data, rates are unknown.
6. Could it cause psychological distress?
The psychological consequences of minor cosmetic procedures are often ignored. For , they are .
However, on cosmetic treatments to psychological disorders or stress.
For some people, cosmetic treatments can cause psychological distress.
Minor cosmetic procedures don’t solve psychological problems and may exacerbate underlying emotional difficulties and relationship strain. Indeed for some patients, cosmetic procedures have , even .
Importantly, some psychological factors predispose people to negative outcomes and in turn are exacerbated by cosmetic procedures. These include body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) – which has a contraindication for , meaning people with BDD shouldn’t have cosmetic procedures.
BDD involves , with some spending hours checking their appearance, with negative impacts on employment and relationships.
BDD symptoms usually worsen after cosmetic procedures, or concern shifts to a new body part. Other psychological and social factors, as well as identity concerns, are to negative outcomes.
Customers of minor cosmetic procedures are more likely than average to have psychological disorders. more than 25 per cent of minor cosmetic procedure customers had potential BDD and high numbers reported psychological distress, including anxiety, stress and/or depression. But some providers fail to adequately screen for these conditions, putting their customers at risk.
During lockdowns and COVID restrictions, people with BDD because they couldn’t access beauty treatments, which fuelled their desire for future therapies.
7. Are your expectations realistic?
A final risk factor involves the motivations for procedures. Previously, only external motivations were considered unhealthy: having minor cosmetic procedures to please others, or believing the procedures would lead to friends and career success.
We did find this in our research, but in addition, we discovered – such as believing minor cosmetic procedures would change your personality – are similarly problematic.
Essentially, your expectations must be realistic because if they’re not, it’s likely the procedures will result in distress.
These can indicate if cosmetic procedures are a safe choice – and ethical cosmetic providers will screen customers for these before proceeding.
Gemma Sharp receives funding from an NHMRC Early Career Research Fellowship (Health Professional Category).
Susan Rossell receives funding from an NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship.
Toni Pikoos received funding from the Australian government.
Simone Buzwell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
