Social media can make plastic surgery look like a choice between obvious change and none at all. Patients often arrive wondering: Will I look like that? Can I have a feature I admire on someone else?
In three short videos from a podcast interview, Bryan G. Forley, M.D., F.A.C.S., a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City, answers those questions.
Why do results seen online make some people afraid?
Some of the results that are widely available online and on social media make people afraid to do anything. The change is so obvious, and not always beneficial to the individual, that they perceive it as the outcome of plastic surgery. The natural results, the ones that bring art into the equation, are not as obvious, and they do not broadcast themselves to people looking for examples of what can be achieved.
That is why my consultation starts with the patient. My first question is always what is of concern to them, and I do not start by telling someone they must be here for this or that.
Why is a photo of someone else’s features not a blueprint?
The concept of a realistic expectation needs to be addressed and understood by patients. I have had cases where someone brought in a photograph of a celebrity and said, I want that nose, or that jawline, or that body. We are not magicians. We cannot create something that is not feasible within the anatomy of the patient.
Sometimes a light bulb goes off, because perhaps no one has really explained what plastic surgery can do. We can enhance or restore what aging or trauma has altered, in a way that maintains a patient’s identity.
How can I preview a result before deciding?
A change can look totally wrong on someone else because their cheeks are much wider, their jawline is different, or the position of their eyes is different from the person they are looking at. Even if we could do it, it would not be beneficial to them.
What I have found very useful in recent years is 3D imaging. We use a high-tech program called Crisalix that creates a 3D representation of the patient, and I can very precisely show subtle or more extreme versions of how a change might look on that patient.
If I feel a patient is not quite getting it, I might show them an extreme example. I have no inclination to do it; I only want to show how it would look. Sometimes, when they see it on themselves, they realize it is not the right thing for them.
What Research and Professional Guidance Add
A 2019 survey of 252 adults found that people who used visual platforms or selfie filters were more likely to view plastic surgery positively, though it measured acceptance, not fear. In a 2025 interview with Resident magazine, Dr. Forley mentions that the usual reason someone looks overdone is a procedure applied improperly.
Five Questions to Answer Before You Bring a Reference Photo
- What exactly do I like in this photo?
- How does it compare with my own cheeks, jawline, and eye position?
- Do I want to look like myself, refreshed, or like someone else?
- What worries me most about the result?
- Have I seen the change on my own photos?
Talk with Dr. Forley
To discuss your goals, or to schedule an in-office or virtual consultation, please contact the office. This article provides general information and does not replace a consultation with a qualified surgeon.
Written by Dr. Forley on October 28, 2023
