In 2022 alone, 23 million cosmetic procedures were performed worldwide. Out of those 23 million, 90% were done on women. More than a 100% increase from 2000, this statistic is staggering and raises a major concern due to the negative effects of plastic surgeries and other cosmetic procedures. However, the rise in popularity of plastic surgery is just one part of a larger issue. The rapid evolution of unattainable beauty standards at the turn of the 21st century has been driven by social media and the growing pressure for women to conform to a specific physical appearance. 

I’m sure that every woman out there has dreamed of having the same flawless features: silky hair, glowing skin, a slim waist–the list goes on. This current, near-universal picture of beauty centers around the promotion of Eurocentric features and specific body types. It seems to be most heavily perpetrated by online media, resulting in constant exposure to very narrow beauty standards. Many people compare themselves to what they see online and begin to feel inadequate. After all, these standards are highly unrealistic. However, what these individuals don’t know is that the flawless pictures they see plastered on social media are actually mostly fake. Editing tools and filters are constantly used, but it leads to numerous people going through cosmetic surgeries like Botox or lip fillers to achieve “perfection” that simply can’t be replicated. This naturally leads to a perpetual cycle of distorted and unrealistic expectations.

While beauty standards affect all kinds of people, they most notably impact young women. A statement made by the Mental Health Foundation states that more than 50% of teens and young women cite social media as a major source of their physical insecurities. Due to the pressure on young girls to achieve unrealistic ideals, many feel the need to pursue extreme and dangerous methods to alter their bodies, from unhealthy diets to invasive surgeries, all to improve their physical appearance. 

An example of the adverse effects of toxic beauty standards includes the rise in body dysmorphia, a mental health condition where individuals hyperfocus on flaws in their appearance. Oftentimes, people undergo dangerous cosmetic procedures in response to body dysmorphia, which can pose significant risks, including nerve damage, infections, and even death. Similarly, anorexia—one of the deadliest mental illnesses in the world—has increased dramatically in children and young adults in the past two decades. Studies show that 3 million people in the United States alone suffer from eating disorders. 

Despite the dangers of chasing unattainable beauty standards, our society pushes women into an endless and often dangerous hunt for physical perfection. With the growing popularity of social media, more and more women are deceived into changing themselves to become “prettier” when, in reality, they have always possessed unique qualities that make them beautiful. Now more than ever, it’s important that we highlight unhealthy standards and redefine what beauty truly means. 

Information retrieved from Britannica, the National Institute of Health, PBS News, the Mental Health Foundation, and FHE Health.