Plastic surgery inspiration: Where should you look for fresh ideas?

There was a time when flipping through a fashion magazine or seeing your favorite celebrity on a silver screen was the inspiration for cosmetic procedures. Nowadays, people get bombarded from all sides with images of young and fresh-faced individuals hawking products and procedures they claim are the key to their perpetual glow.

If you are interested in plastic surgery but aren't sure which procedures may be proper for you, where can you turn for inspiration? Is it now a faux pas to save pictures and bring them to your surgeon's office? How do you articulate your goals and desired results, especially when the right words seem to escape you?

You don't have to be a literary genius or world-class communicator to get your point across. Inspiration is all around. You just need to know where to look for fresh ideas.

Are celebrity pics still the gold standard?

You may be old enough to remember the craze when everyone was hitting plastic surgeon's offices asking for Angelina Jolie's lips, bringing with them tabloid pictures of the actress for inspiration. What about Blake Lively's nose or Salma Hayek's breasts?

In an age where fashion magazines, movies and television were some of the only sources of glitz and glamour, celebrity pictures were a significant source of plastic surgery inspiration. Yet, is this still the case today?

"I think that patients are looking less to celebrity images as inspiration since it is well-known that even celebrities alter their photos with apps and filters," said Karen Horton, MD, MSc, FACS. "Several of them have been caught doing this!"

She points to several articles detailing celebrity Photoshop fails, a phenomenon in which it is obvious a celeb picture has been significantly retouched and does not present an accurate representation of the individual. Touch-ups can do more than remove a blemish or disguise fine lines; photo-altering programs and artificial intelligence can drastically change the shape and contours of a person's face and body.

Jeffery Roth, MD, FACS, isn't so sure the era of celebrity inspiration for cosmetic procedures has truly come to pass, though.

"Folks are still looking to celebrities for inspiration," said Dr. Roth. "Now they are also seeing people on social media platforms, whether they have 'influencer' status or not. It also depends on what is considered a 'celebrity' these days. Many patients will still bring photos of their favorite celebrity or influencer or just a regular person to see if this can be achieved."

Technology is changing the inspiration game

Photoshop and other image-enhancing technology aren't the only technological advancements changing the inspiration game. Where are people looking for fresh plastic surgery ideas?

"We have seen some folks use AI as inspiration," said Dr. Roth. "It is really important to stress that this is a completely made-up image and may not be obtainable in real life."

That's right. AI images can also be a source for fresh ideas, giving people a glimpse at what they would look like with minor and major tweaks. However, these images can give people a false sense of what surgery can achieve, and it does not consider the unique structural and anatomical features of a person's face or body.

"A photo can help, but it must be then taken into context," said Dr. Roth. "We explain all the time that celebrities do not look like their photos in real life. Cindy Crawford has said this multiple times. They take models and have them do hair and make-up for hours. They have the best lighting and photographers in the world, and then still Photoshop the images. The images that we see on social media platforms are usually impacted by filters and other touch-up software."

Fresh ideas? Look to the past

Dr. Horton emphasized that you should turn to the past for fresh inspiration. Your past.

"Older patients often turn to photographs of themselves a couple of years ago to a decade or so previously," said Dr. Horton.

If you want to rejuvenate your look or focus on anti-aging treatments, consider going back in time and looking at photographs of your younger self. Did you have fuller lips or fewer crow's feet? Using your younger self as inspiration can help you better picture your potential results and create a more realistic canvas for you and your board-certified plastic surgeon to work from.

Dr. Roth also suggested reputable websites and social media accounts from board-certified plastic surgeons and ASPS members.

"I think they can start with websites and social media from board-certified plastic surgeons and ASPS members," said Dr. Roth. "One also has to be careful when looking at before and after photos on websites. Board-certified plastic surgeons and ASPS members cannot alter photos."

It's time to get real

Clothing, shapewear, AI and Photoshop can also alter and disguise the body, shaving down love handles and enhancing the bust. If you're looking to bring inspiration into a plastic surgeon's office, though, it's a good idea to get real.

"For inspiration, especially for breast procedures, I recommend that patients find real photographs of other people who look like them – similar age, body type, curves and proportions – to show me what they like and how they would like to be," said Dr. Horton. "That helps me assess their expectations and determine if they are realistic about what plastic surgery and modern medicine can do for them."

Enhanced photographs are not real life. If you are using these as the ultimate source of inspiration, you may be disappointed to hear that the results you seek are unachievable. People are flesh and blood, not wood and clay. It can be challenging to mold certain features depending on anatomy, skin laxity and other structural features of the body.

Consider also bringing photos of what you don't want to your consultation. It can be hard to describe exactly what you want when terms like "snatched," "beautiful" and "busty" have different meanings for everyone. For example, it can be hard to describe your ideal breast size since cup size isn't always an accurate measure. Show your plastic surgeon not only pictures of what you desire but also pictures of what is "too big" or "too small" to help them get a better idea of your ideal.

AI, social media, celebrity photographs, apps and websites are all legitimate sources of inspiration. These are excellent places to start your plastic surgery journey. However, the best source of reliable information comes from a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Bring your inspiration and be ready to engage in an honest and transparent discussion about what you want to achieve and whether your aesthetic goals are realistic, given your unique skin and body type.

To find a qualified plastic surgeon for any cosmetic or reconstructive procedure, consult a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. All ASPS members are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, have completed an accredited plastic surgery training program, practice in accredited facilities and follow strict standards of safety and ethics. Find an ASPS member in your area.