By: Dr. Silvia Rotemberg, Plastic Surgeon
Photography has been around for over a hundred years and people
have always enjoyed going through photo albums and looking at
pictures of themselves and of others. But, since the cost of
film and developing the images was not cheap, photos were not
taken nearly as often and were normally well prepared for.
Poised, primped and posed, we all tend to look a little better.
Actors and actresses study how to hold their heads and which
profile to show the camera in order to look their best in every
Photos taken on the spur of the moment or without the subject
knowing their picture is being taken don’t always make us look
our best. Even the most attractive celebrity can look pretty
awful when caught unaware or shot with poor lighting and at the
Before you start worrying about the way you look in “selfies”
and other candid pictures posted online, remember, first of all,
these photos are just taken for fun. They’re not supposed to be
posed, perfect images. These photos are about the moment, the
place and the people you are with. It’s about spontaneity and
having a good time. Don’t let these pictures make you self-
(And if friends ever criticize how you or others look, perhaps
these people are not real friends at all.)
Another thing to think about when it comes to pictures taken on
the spur of the moment with a small camera or cell phone, is
that there is a large variance in lighting, color, background
and camera position in all photos.
The landscape of picture taking and your appearance in the
photos changed completely with the advent of digital
photography, cell phone cameras and instant sharing. No longer
are we given a chance to prepare for a photo.
Most photos people take and share online tend to be close-ups.
Selfies are normally shot with the camera held at arm’s length
or pointed at a mirror. At this distance, every flaw is
magnified. Group photos and candid shots are also taken or
enlarged to show detail.
Any of these can make it appear as though the subject is tired
with droopy eyes, or has a large nose or wrinkled brow. This
does not mean they need a cosmetic procedure.
Any professional photographer will tell you that angle, colors,
distance to the camera and lighting make all the difference.
Don’t let your self-esteem be affected by how you may look in a
“selfie”. How you appear in these images should not be a cause
Above all, be yourself and flash a real smile and not because a
picture will look bad. There’s a lot more to you than how you
appear in pictures posted online.
If you don’t have a major cosmetic problem apparent when looked
at in the real world, don’t be concerned with the idea of
plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedure.
The point is, you should never make a decision about getting
plastic surgery or about how you feel about yourself based on a
“selfie” or other online image.
However, if you do have a very real physical situation, plastic
surgery could be an option. Some people do, in fact, have such
concerns as a large or bulbous nose or perhaps a nose that has
been broken in the past. While others might have extremely thin
lips or ears too large that stick out from their heads or an
individual might be plagued by acne scars. All these conditions
can be treated with cosmetic procedures.
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