How many of us have an iPhone packed with Instagram selfies that are tweaked using the latest apps?
There are pretty much apps for everything these days — and beauty enhancement and editing technology is no exception.
Modified images are very much de rigueur for teenagers but more and more of us adults are jumping on the bandwagon and enhancing our looks and using the images as the basis of a wishlist of what we want to change.
Now, cosmetic surgeons suggest an increasing number of patients are arriving in their clinics armed with a whole gallery of ‘I want to look like this’ photos, thanks to this face-altering, shade-changing technology.
But, is what’s acceptable to ask a hairdresser really OK when it comes to a cosmetic surgery consultation?
And can practitioners and procedures truly achieve the ‘magic’ look we see in the filtered images?
Here’s the verdict from facial aesthetics expert and London ‘lip queen’ Dr Rita Rakus.
She says: ‘The thing that these facial filters on Snapchat all have in common is a skin-perfecting element. The most common hang-ups we have with our skin are issues such as acne, sun damage and wrinkles. Our skin acts as a barrier to the outside world, protecting our bodies and so, understandably, it takes a bit of a battering throughout our lives — making it the first area we look to perfect when applying a filter.
‘To achieve the skin-perfecting element that we often see on Snapchat filters, I would suggest the ULTRAcel treatment, the latest in non-surgical skin tightening and lifting, which addresses wrinkles, fine lines, dark circles and acne scarring.
‘The treatment combines three highly effective technologies in a single system: radio frequency, radio frequency micro-needling and high intensity focused ultrasound, which delivers fantastic results with minimal or no downtime.
And for those of us looking to achieve a smooth, flawless complexion like the most popular, beautifying Snapchat filter, Dr Rakus says: ‘I would definitely recommend the HydraFacial. This non-invasive, luxury treatment combines cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, hydration and antioxidant protection to improve uneven skin tone and mild pigmentation for clear, beautiful skin with no discomfort or downtime. It works wonders!’
Finally, the pout is also a popular Snapchat pose, and the app provides a number of filters that enhance the look, by giving the illusion of fuller, more shapely lips.
Dr Rakus advises: ‘If you’re looking for this in real life, Princess fillers are a quick and effective way to achieve the look. It is a softer product that causes minimal swelling and therefore less downtime and each treatment is unique to you to ensure that your lips still suit your face but enhance your natural beauty.’
