Filters, lighting, makeup… the idea of seeing our reflection (and knowing that we are being watched) every time we take a video call became our daily bread since the COVID-19 pandemic, motivating us to look presentable in every situation. session, but, To the point of undergoing cosmetic surgery?
According to researchers at the Boston University Laser and Cosmetic Center, the use of video calling platforms causes people to expose themselves to constant self-inspection of their appearance and, in the end, consider that they need a “cat’s hand” beyond a little blush.
The study, published in the January 2025 edition of the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, in the United States, analyzed 545 adults in that country; of them, 338 They admitted that they focus more on their reflection than on whoever is speaking. Likewise, they were asked if they used filters to retouch their appearance: 341 confessed yes.
The economic status and educational level of the respondents, the frequency of their video calls and the use of face masks during these links were also ascertained; The latter, on the other hand, is the shield to which 304 people consulted attribute better self-esteem.
How do you look on a video call?
These findings suggest, the authors of the study, could link high exposure through video calls with a possible increase in disorders such as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which, according to the Mayo Clinic, consists of persistent thinking about one or more perceived defects.
Symptoms include believing that others are focused on your appearance in a negative or to make fun of you, compare your physique with that of others and be convinced that you have a defect that even makes you look deformed.
“In the future, this could lead to more procedures focused on well-being psychological. “The desire for treatment may not always come from inherent dissatisfaction, but from prolonged exposure to digital glare,” said study co-author Dr. Neelam Vashi.
And the survey reported 291 subjects who, thanks to Zoom filters (the platform mentioned in the questionnaire), have seriously considered having a cosmetic repair. This is where health professionals, Dr. Vashi concluded, need to establish realistic expectations with their patients.
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