What’s Going Around: Snapchat dysmorphia
A plastic surgeon with MU Health said a relatively new trend called “Snapchat dysmorphia” is appearing across the country.
The disorder is when a person wants to alter his or her appearance to look like Snapchat filters.
“That’s the danger, it’s just a trend.” Stephen Colbert, M.D. said. “It’s a very temporary period of time where people want to look a certain way.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, the term Snapchat dysmorphia comes from a form of body dysmorphic disorder, which is a mental health condition when an individual becomes obsessed over their perceived physical flaws, even if no one else can see them.
Some plastic surgeons in larger populated areas say they doubt Snapchat dysmorphia will be as serious as actual body dysmorphic disorder.
The trend is not currently being seen in Mid-Missouri, but has been seen on the coastlines and some doctors fear it could make its way to the Midwest.
