‘Spent This Money on Fixing My Face’

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.

Further, she spoke about the pressures she faced when she was starting in the industry and how appearance played an intrinsic role.

“There was a time when only good-looking people were allowed to speak,” she said.

Later in the conversation, Tanmay jokingly asked Rhea if he should also get his face “fixed”. Responding to him, she said, “Everyone should get their facelift. Technology is next level now. There is everything…”

Increase in cosmetic consultations among young adults

According to Dr Sunil Kumar Prabhu, Consultant Dermatologist and Aesthetic Physician at Aster RV Hospital, Bengaluru, the number of teenagers and young adults seeking cosmetic consultations has risen in recent years, with social media, beauty filters, and changing beauty standards influencing how young people see themselves.

“In recent years the number of teenagers and young adults asking for cosmetic consultations has jumped quite a bit,” Dr Prabhu said. He noted that while many young people approach dermatologists for genuine concerns such as acne, acne scars, pigmentation, and birthmarks, requests for aesthetic procedures have also risen.

“There’s a noticeable uptick in interest for aesthetic work, mostly influenced by social media, beauty filters, and the constant exposure to ‘perfect’ facial features,” Dr Sunil said.

He also stressed that young adults in their early 20s are increasingly exploring cosmetic enhancements, while procedures among teenagers are generally considered only when there is a strong medical or psychological reason.

He said the first consultation should not be about immediately recommending a procedure. “The first consultation shouldn’t just rush into options. It should be about getting a feel for what the patient imagines, how emotionally mature they are, and whether a procedure is actually necessary,” he said.

Acne, pigmentation among common concerns

Acne and its aftermath remain some of the most common reasons young people seek dermatological care. Acne scars, post-inflammatory pigmentation, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores and oily skin are among the concerns frequently reported by younger patients.

“Young people pretty often end up asking for treatment for acne, plus those longer-term results that can come with it, like acne scars and post-inflammatory pigmentation,” Dr Prabhu said.

However, cosmetic requests are also becoming more prominent. These include facial contouring, lip enhancement, jawline definition, non-surgical nose reshaping and skin-tightening treatments.

“Lately, cosmetic consultations seem to include requests for things like facial contouring, lip enhancement, jawline definition, nose reshaping without surgery, and some level of skin tightening,” he said, adding that social media trends and celebrity appearances can make such procedures appear increasingly normal.

Dr Prabhu advised young people to focus on basic skin health before considering cosmetic intervention. “Dermatologists usually suggest starting with the root skin health stuff first, meaning the right skincare, solid sun protection, and treatments that actually have evidence, before jumping into cosmetic procedures,” he said.

Why early cosmetic procedures can be risky

Dr Prabhu cautioned that undergoing cosmetic procedures too early can have both physical and psychological consequences. “Face structures actually keep maturing into the late teenage years, and also into early adulthood, so if someone does treatment too early, it might not give results that last, or they might not even fit the face properly later on,” he said.

Procedures can also carry risks including infection, scarring, asymmetry, allergic reactions and dissatisfaction with the results. In some cases, patients may eventually require corrective procedures.

“Unnecessary procedures can open the door to problems like infection, scarring, a lopsided look, allergic reactions, or cosmetic results that turn out disappointing and may need fixing later,” Dr Prabhu said.

He also stressed that repeated cosmetic interventions could potentially alter the natural balance of facial proportions over time.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.