In his new book, cosmetic surgeon Prof. Werner Mang accounts for the supposedly perfect social media world.
Lindau Cosmetic surgeon Prof. Dr. Werner Mang (71) criticizes the grievances in his own branch in his new book “Abfalls der Schönheitschirurgie”. In the UN interview, the Medical Director of the Bodensee Clinic in Lindau talks about the effects of social media on his work, which interventions are currently particularly in demand and why he would like to operate on Thomas Gottschalk.
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How has your work changed since the advent of Instagram and Co.?
Full lips, flawless skin and a perfect figure: such ideals of beauty are portrayed as standard by influencers on social media. The internet and social media have an enormous impact on the self-image of adolescents and young adults – this can go in a pathological direction. Nowadays, ‘social media stars’ act as role models and sometimes convey absurd ideals. I’m a critic of the internet, especially influencers and Instagram. According to a survey by the Society for Aesthetic Medicine, one in four girls between 14 and 17 is dissatisfied with their looks. This is the reflection of our society.
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Has the demand for cosmetic surgery increased during the pandemic?
We carry out the minimally invasive beauty interventions twice a day, and the trend is rising. There are currently around 40 treatments per month, before Corona it was around a third less. In the past year, no big vacation abroad was possible and we all have to wear face masks in public places anyway. So many of them had the money they needed for an operation, and there is no swelling behind the mask. Another reason for the increase is that today you can see your wrinkles mercilessly in video conferences and FaceTime and are constantly confronted with drooping eyelids, bags under the eyes and facial wrinkles.
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Why do young people orient themselves to supposed ideals of beauty?
Trying to emulate role models is not in itself new. When Marilyn Monroe became a sex symbol in the 1950s, all young women wanted to look like her. The difference to today is that the stars and starlets speak much more openly about the interventions and show them – paired with pictures of a seemingly perfect life including a perfect partner – on social media every day. In addition, access to beauty treatments and operations is much easier today. For many, a rhinoplasty, for example, is no longer a lifelong dream on which one has to save some time, but there are a large number of providers at home and abroad where treatments can be carried out for little money. This can come at the expense of quality and involve increased risks.
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Which treatments are currently in demand?
Recently, the emaciated heroin look of Kate Moss was considered trendy, just a few years later it was the butt of Jennifer Lopez. Today, it’s the looks of stars like Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus that women emulate. Accordingly, treatments such as Brazilian butt lift, lip augmentation, injections, bichectomies and breast augmentations are particularly in demand.
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What was the most extraordinary wish in your clinic?
The most bizarre wish for calf implants came from an Italian who wanted to go to Oktoberfest in lederhosen with tight calves. As a serious aesthetic surgeon, you have to say no to such interventions, because medical problems can also arise here.
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You have operated on many celebrities. Is there anyone you would like to operate on?
I would like to operate on Thomas Gottschalk’s nose and his drooping eyelids. I once said that to him as a joke at the Salzburg Festival many years ago. Yes, maybe there will be something with his drooping eyelids.
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