Instagram and body image – the dangers of social media
Can scrolling through Instagram negatively affect our body image?
This question has been a hot topic of discussion for years, especially as the number of younger users on the platform continues to grow.
One argument suggests that following body-positive content can have a better impact on mental health and how we view ourselves.
But what happens when the pressure to love your body adds another element of impossible standards to live up to?
Being positive about your imperfections is not something that everyone can or wants to do.
The potential risks behind the ideal Instagram body
Body image is a struggle that many teenagers deal with.
In a survey conducted by the Mental Health Foundation, 35% of young people aged 13–19 said their body image causes them to ‘often’ or ‘always’ worry.
In this regard, social media, and particularly Instagram, have created social expectations that cause young people to act in such a way until the expectations are realised.
To keep up with the latest trends and adhere to certain beauty standards, they sometimes feel pressured to modify their pictures and the way they look.
Things become even more complicated when young women turn to invasive surgery to show off a flawless complexion. The ‘Snapchat dysmorphia,’ a trend where people are seeking out surgery to help them appear like the filtered versions of themselves, is part of this relatively new phenomenon.
The dangerous knock-on effect of Instagram body image
It’s no secret that the cost of invasive procedures in the UK is rather prohibitive for the vast majority of young people.
Not having other options left, young people turn to medical treatment abroad, which is seen as the only affordable option.
However, going abroad for medical treatment is a very important decision that requires a large amount of planning, and it comes with a number of risks.
For example, many people won’t realise how overwhelming this experience can get. Different ways and customs, a different environment, and a completely different language, which can make communication difficult.
Let’s also not forget that no procedure is free from risk. Complications can occur, and they would be translated into extra cost and trouble.
Instead of going abroad for medical treatments, we advise young people to consider more affordable, accessible, and safer ways to improve their body image.
Non-surgical solutions
Non-surgical procedures can help you boost your confidence safely and meet your needs safely.
They are quick, easily tolerated, and minimally invasive, so there is a lower chance of complications and side effects. As the effects of non-surgical procedures are temporary, there is no need to worry about unwanted side effects being permanent.
From non-surgical body contouring to cellulite treatment, we are striving to deliver the best treatments, so you can experience the best results.