Upping Your Selfie Game – No Filter Necessary
- Posted on: Apr 6 2018
In today’s digital environment social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram not only dominate the way we communicate, but also the way we present ourselves to the world. Social media companies are savvy enough to give us a multitude of filters to enhance our photos and, in turn, ourselves so we make posts, updates and selfies a daily occurrence looking our very augmented best. But what if you wanted to shake things up and go filter free? Should you be so bold, board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Orna Fisher has some suggestions for making your selfie sizzle on screen. While you will get lots of likes online, imagine the reaction you will get in real life.
Plump It Up
Non-surgical lip augmentation is a quick way to fuller lips and a selfie with extra pop. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen and our lips lose volume which can be remedied with surgery or non-surgical techniques. But the key is not to get too carried away and end up with a pair of duck lips that send you to social media Siberia. Keep the following in mind when determining your lip augmentation goals. Lips have very specific proportions, for example, the upper lip to lower lip ratio is 1/3 to 2/3. Yes, you read that right, the lower lip is fuller than the upper lip and it’s supposed to be this way. Anything else will give a very unnatural appearance, or what is commonly referred to as “duck lips,” where the upper lip is too big and sticks out compared with the lower lip.
“Like all procedures in cosmetic plastic surgery, lip enhancement is a procedure that requires an aesthetic eye focusing on lip shape, balance between the two lips, and how the lips fit a particular face,” explains board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Orna Fisher. “Lip shapes vary from person to person and the amount of natural-looking augmentation that is possible will also vary based on this.”
A non-surgical technique to consider for fuller lips is hyaluronic acid filler injections which last four to six months and must be repeated to maintain the effect. A new injectable option is Renuva, which is made from cadaver fat and may last up to two years. This is only available to plastic surgeons’ offices. There are also different types of surgical options including lip lift and fat transfer to get that fuller pout for optimal posting.
The Nose Has It
The nose holds a prominent place right in the middle of our faces which makes hiding it in social media posts a bit of a challenge. Rhinoplasty commonly referred to as a nose job, is one way to negate the need for the magic of filters. As one of the most common plastic surgeries performed and an effective and dramatic way to change the size, angle, and shape of your nose, rhinoplasty can achieve many things, including: making the nose more proportionate with the rest of the face, narrowing the nostrils, removing a bump for a better profile, and recontouring the shape of the tip if it’s drooping, enlarged or boxy.
“Rhinoplasty involves accessing the cartilage and bones in the nose via small incisions,” explains Dr. Fisher. “Depending on the desired results, bone and cartilage may be taken out, or tissue may be put in. The bone and cartilage in the nose are reshaped and rearranged, after which the skin and tissue are re-draped over the structure of the nose.”
This procedure will dramatically alter your profile – in more ways that one.
Beauty is Skin Deep
Radiant skin is, of course, a must for your selfie game but even more desirable for real-life encounters. One method to achieve that is Clear + Brilliant, a non-invasive, no-downtime laser procedure that rejuvenates the skin from the inside out for a more glowing complexion.
“The great thing about this laser treatment is that it is good for all skin types, from very light to very dark, and that’s not something we can say for all lasers. It lightens and brightens skin, decreases pigmentation, improves texture, and builds collagen,” explains Dr. Fisher, who recommends three to six treatments of the laser procedure be performed two to four weeks apart depending on the modality and skin.
Another option to consider is IPL, which is intense pulsed light, a range of wavelengths that targets red and brown spots, resulting in a more even skin tone and brightening the skin. “Also called a photofacial, it’s not a deeper rejuvenation like Clear + Brilliant, but it will cause brown spots to lighten,” explains Dr. Fisher. “It may require three to six sessions, and some people may benefit from just one. You will have to tolerate your spots being very dark for seven to ten days until they come off and reveal lighter skin.”
Get Cheeky With It
A subtle way to give your selfie more sizzle is with a little filler to your cheeks. “Made from hyaluronic acid, HA fillers can make the face look more youthful by adding fullness to areas that have lost volume or to areas needing augmentation. Some HA fillers can be used specifically to fill in deep lines on the face or to fill in lines around the mouth. Others can specifically be used to add fullness to the midface,” says Dr. Fisher of HA fillers, Juvéderm and Restylane. “Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in our skin and that’s why it makes such a great filler.”
Another injectable to consider is dermal filler Sculptra Aesthetic which can be used to subtly add volume to your face over time. The improvement is gradual and gives a natural, more youthful appearance. “With dermal filler Sculptra Aesthetic, your youthfulness is gradually restored,” explains Dr. Fisher. “An FDA-approved injectable that helps gradually replace lost collagen — an underlying cause of facial aging — results can last more than two years.” Multiple injections are generally required with the number depending on how much facial volume needs to be restored.
However you decide to portray yourself – whether it’s in the digital world or the real world – Dr. Fisher has the expertise to help you find the look that shows you in the best light.
Contact our office today to schedule your consultation!
Posted in: Facial Rejuvenation & Injectable