The Web is now flooded with apps that can transform a Plain Jane into a model. It’s thus not surprising that apps such as The Plastic Show, Plastic Surgery Simulator Lite, BodyPlastika, iAugment and hundreds others are a hit among people, especially women.
These apps let users see how they will look after a plastic surgery like a face lift, nose job, liposuction or breast augmentation, thereby encouraging users to go under the knife.
However, the West is now waking up to the dangers of these morphing apps. Some think these are making fun of the serious science of “plastic surgery”, while others think it is promoting the culture to “appear perfect and artificial”.
But awareness level in India is almost absent, plastic surgeons warn, adding that there is no blueprint that regulates the use of these apps and even children are trying these out, something that should not be encouraged at all.
‘Human body is not a computer Image’
It’s a common practice for plastic or cosmetic surgeons to use an image morphing software to show a patient how he or she will look after the surgery.
However, the American Association of Aesthetic Surgery (AAAS) has advised against rampant use of morphing apps.
Dr Hemanth Kumar N., consultant plastic and cosmetic surgeon, Kims Hospital, says, “AAAS has advised against using such digital image modifying software because of several reasons. Firstly, you can never translate the results of a smartphone app or a software tool to a human face accurately. A human face is not a computer image that can be altered with a click of a mouse. These morphing software don’t take into consideration factors like bleeding, wound healing, scarring, tissue recovery and skin colour. Also, results of surgical procedures and recovery vary from individual to individual. Secondly, it can lead to malpractices in the field.”
He, instead, suggest that people find a good hospital and an expert surgeon. “As a surgeon I prefer to show my patients the results of surgeries of previous patients. It sets realistic goals,” adds Dr Hemanth.
Love Yourself
People who usually go for such surgeries suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder — wherein the afflicted individual is concerned with body image.
Dr K. Prashant, consultant psychopathologist, Yashoda Hospital says, “We are not talking about the ones who genuinely need corrective surgery like fire or road accident victims. So if a 5 foot-10 inches tall person looks in the mirror, he or she might see an overweight person, which might not be the case. With plastic surgeries, they want to alter reality and such apps only worsen the situation. It just points to the lack of acceptance by individuals on how they look.”
Such people need to be identified and counseled thoroughly, about the outcomes of plastic surgeries and build confidence in each one to accept the way they look. They should be supported by their families. In case of children, plastic surgeries must be avoided as their bodies are still growing.
‘Add safety features’
As long as a surgeon is performing his duty earnestly, these apps can do no wrong, suggests Dr Sudhakar Prasad, senior consultant, cosmetic and plastic surgeon, Apollo Hospital. He explains, “It’s the duty of a surgeon to explain the pros and cons of a surgery to a patient as also dispelling myths attached to it. Also, when we use the Alter Image software, a scroll states that results you see on the monitor are rough estimates.”
But he asserts that these apps should not be readily accessible to teenagers. “In the West, you need a credit card authorisation to verify if the user of the software is an adult. Likewise, the apps should integrate more safety mechanisms,” he adds.
