The Beauty Standard with Dr. Roy Kim

This Week's Beauty Standard: What You Missed in Plastic Surgery

• Dr. Roy Kim

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We decode the latest trends in aesthetics, from the ethics of physicians publicly analyzing celebrity procedures to the transparency of influencers documenting their cosmetic surgery journeys on social media. This week's episode examines how the plastic surgery landscape is shifting from external validation toward internal alignment.

• Licensed physicians using social media to speculate about celebrities' plastic surgery raises concerns about professionalism and patient dignity
• NCAA athletes and TikTok stars Haley and Hannah Cavender shared their breast augmentation journey openly, raising questions about monetizing medical procedures
• Medical tourism to Turkey offers significant cost savings ($14,000 vs $40,000 domestically) but comes with risks including lack of continuity of care
• "Snapchat dysmorphia" has patients pursuing surgically unachievable ideals based on filtered selfies
• Growing trend of celebrities reversing past cosmetic procedures shows personal growth and maturity in aesthetic choices

I'd love to hear what you think. Do you believe influencer transparency is helpful? Are we talking enough about post-op psychology? You can message me directly on Instagram at Dr Roy Kim, or drop a comment on Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and share.


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Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Beauty Standard with Dr Roy Kim. Welcome to the Beauty Standard where we decode the latest in aesthetics with insight, science and a bit of storytelling. I'm Dr Roy Kim and in this episode I'm breaking down some of the most buzzworthy stories from the past seven days in plastic surgery from influencer transparency to the ethics of viral doctor commentary, to what happens when people undo their past procedures. Let's dive in. In a recent editorial in Allure magazine, a growing trend was called out Licensed physicians using social media platforms to publicly speculate about celebrities' plastic surgery. You've likely seen this content Viral videos with side-by-side photos, commentary on jawlines, brows or alleged rhinoplasties, all shared without consent. The article argues that while these videos may seem educational, they can be invasive, inaccurate and reinforce unrealistic beauty standards. This isn't just about professionalism. It's about patient dignity, even when the patient is a public figure. As physicians we have to ask are we informing or are we performing? Influencers Haley and Hannah Cavender, best known as former NCAA athletes and TikTok stars, shared their breast augmentation journey openly on social media. They documented their pre-op moments and recovery with candor and confidence, saying they felt great within 24 hours of surgery. This move represents a broader cultural shift. Transparency around procedures is no longer taboo. It's often branded monetized and community-driven. But that raises a tough question when cosmetic surgery is content, are we empowering patients or commercializing their healing?

Speaker 1:

A recent People magazine feature profiled a 35-year-old mother of three who traveled to Turkey for a mommy makeover at a significantly lower cost than in the US about $14,000 compared to over $40,000 domestically. She documented her transformation on TikTok, which garnered massive engagement. The article offered a balanced take. Yes, the affordability is appealing, but patients must be aware of the risks, such as lack of continuity of care, emergency management and different medical regulations abroad. The savings are real, but so are the trade-offs. Another theme we're seeing more and more of Patients wanting to look like they're filtered selfies. This phenomenon dubbed Snapchat dysmorphia is affecting both young and adult patients. These filters alter facial features so convincingly that people start chasing an ideal that may not be surgically achievable or emotionally sustainable. As physicians, we must help patients see the difference between enhancement and distortion. Surgery should align with who they are, not who an app wants them to be.

Speaker 1:

The premiere of Botched Presence Plastic Surgery Rewind on E this week showcased celebrities re-evaluating past cosmetic procedures like large implants and overdone fillers. The show is more than just a reversal narrative. It's a look at personal growth. We're seeing people openly undo procedures that no longer serve their self-image. This signals a cultural moment that transformation doesn't always mean more. Sometimes it means going back. This week's stories reflect a major shift from external validation to internal alignment. We're seeing a plastic surgery culture that's maturing. That's a good thing. I'd love to hear what you think. Do you believe influencer transparency is helpful? Are we talking enough about post-op psychology? You can message me directly on Instagram at Dr Roy Kim, or drop a comment on Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and share. We'll be back next week with more insights into what's happening in aesthetics. Until then, stay beautiful, stay curious and stay informed. Thank you for listening to the Beauty Standard with Dr Roy Kim. Make sure to follow for future topics and episodes.