A woman has told how she spent $15,000 (about N2.6 million) on plastic surgery so she could take better ‘selfies’. Triana Lavey, 38, from Los Angeles, California, revealed to ABC’s Nightline that she ‘hated’ the way she looked in Facebook and Instagram photographs with her ‘weak chin’ being the main concern. In a bid to be more photogenic and ‘look like a supermodel’ she got a chin implant, nose job and cheek-defining fat grafts. Two years on, she says she’s overjoyed with the results. See her before and after photos right after the break
‘I now have the face that I always thought that I had,’ the brunette exclaimed. ‘I look like myself, but Photoshopped.’ Justifying the need for surgery she added: ‘Your social media presence is just as important as your real-life presence. It’s a legitimate form of promoting yourself. ‘Not everyone is born beautiful and if you can get a little help from . . . a nip-tuck then more power to you.’ Ms Lavey also realizes the money-making potential of social media as she works as a talent manager for the uFluencer Group, a public relations firm that develops online talent.
While she’s put surgery to bed, Ms Lavey still has regular Botox injections to ensure she looks her best. ‘Botox to me is a necessity,’ she said. ‘It’s kind of like in my bills like rent, food, gasoline, medical insurance . . . [then] Botox.’ Ms Lavey noted that before sites like Facebook and Instagram became popular she didn’t care so much about the way she looked. But over the years she became increasingly obsessed with her appearance as unflattering shots cropped up on her profile.
Touching on the rise of social media, she said: ‘It skews our perception of how we should look I think it’s making ourselves hold ourselves to a higher unrealistic standard. ‘When you do see a picture of yourself hanging out, your instinct is, “oh I wish I were tanner or not wrinkled” or “wish this” and this is a natural response due to the culture we’re gearing towards.’ Since her original two-hour surgery Ms Lavey has had further fat grafts and a corrective nose job. Now, however, she finally appears satisfied with her sculpted ‘selfie’ face. Luckily she got discount on all of the procedures as her surgeon, Beverly Hills-based Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, is a good friend.
Ms Lavey acknowledges that plastic surgery was a radical choice, but she knew dieting and exercise wouldn’t get the results she was after. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reported this year that the rise of ‘selfies’ is having a huge impact on the plastic surgery industry. After surveying 2,700 surgeons, one in three reported an increase in requests for procedures due to patients being more self-aware of looks in social media. Along with nose jobs, the demand for hair transplants and eyelid surgery also skyrocketed last year.
Na wa o! Things people do for “selfies”!