The smartphone has become an indispensable part of our lives. It has changed how people communicate, and get access to, and share information.
While all these can be greatly beneficial, it also has a harmful side, with experts linking the use of smartphones and its features, such as social media apps, to potential mental illnesses.
The Selfie Camera and Facial Flaws
Another area of concern is the smartphone’s camera feature, especially the front-facing selfie camera, which contributes to an increased awareness of users’ facial flaws. In the social media age where the image is everything, awareness of facial flaws can be a major concern for many people wishing to have that perfect look, which then leads to an uptick in the number of people seeking cosmetic procedures.
One of the most popular forms of cosmetic procedure is rhinoplasty (cosmetic nose reshaping). The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reported that more than 352,000 Americans underwent a rhinoplasty procedure in 2020.
The ASPS Study
A new study shows a potential connection between facial images shot from front-facing selfie cameras and an increase in demand for the procedure. “The selfie camera could be giving you a distorted image of your face and should never be the basis of wanting to have a cosmetic nose job,” says plastic surgeon Dr. Sacha Obaid.
The ASPS study involved 30 volunteers who had three photos taken in similar light conditions using a smartphone camera and a standard digital single-lens reflex camera. The researchers took the first two photos with the front-facing camera at 12 and 18 inches, the average distance for taking an up-close and a wide-shot selfie photo.
The third photo was captured on a standard digital one-lens camera from a five-foot distance, the standard used by plastic surgeons when discussing expected outcomes with clients.
What the Results Show
The researchers then compared the appearance and the measurements of facial features such as nose, lips, chin, and facial width. The measurements were used to substantiate perceived selfie camera distortion of facial features. The subject also filled out questionnaires about their satisfaction with their appearance based on all three photographs.
The result proved what the researchers thought was true: there was a significant distortion of the facial features on photos taken using a smartphone’s front-facing camera. The photos taken at 12 inches from the subject’s face had the nose appearing 6.4 percent longer than those taken on the standard camera photo. In the photo taken from an 18-inch distance, the nose appeared 4.3 percent longer.
The comparison also indicated a 12 and 17 percent increase in the nose-chin-length ratio. Also, both selfie camera photos showed the base of the nose as wider than in the standard camera photo. The participant’s ratings of the photos in the answers provided in the questionnaire reflected these findings as well. The differences were also pretty apparent when viewing the photos side by side.
User Responsibility
Users must understand the possible distortions in selfie photo images and base their plastic surgery decisions on objective facts, rather than what the selfie photos reflect. Phone camera manufacturers can also use the data from the research to create cameras that better reflect the actual facial features of their users, considering the effects it can have on their mental well-being.
Alternatively, they could make their users aware that what they see may not necessarily be a true reflection of their facial features.
