Due to widespread photo-editing technology through web applications such as Facetune and Snapchat, the idea of physical "perfection" has become an epidemic among social media users.

A research team from Boston Medical Center (BMC) argues that a dramatic change is occurring in regards to people's perceptions of beauty throughout the world and strongly influences a person's self-esteem and can even trigger body dysmorphic disorder.  

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is defined as an excessive preoccupation to hide their imperfections, by getting engaged in repetitive behaviors such as skin picking, and an excessive amount of consultations with dermatologists or plastic surgeons to change their appearance. An estimated 2% of the population is affected with this disorder which falls in the obsessive-compulsive spectrum.

The research has shown that mostly teen girls who manipulate their photos were more prone to dysmorphic disorder. Around 55 percent of plastic surgeons report that most of their patients perform plastic surgery just to look good in selfies.

Neelam Vashi, MD, the director of the Ethnic Skin Center from BMC and Boston University School of Medicine, said "A new phenomenon called 'Snapchat dysmorphia' has popped up, where patients are seeking out surgery to help them appear like the filtered versions of themselves."

The investigators claim that surgery is not the right option, since it may worsen underlying BDD.

Neelam Vashi further added, "Filtered selfies can make people lose touch with reality, creating the expectation that we are supposed to look perfectly primped all the time; This can be especially harmful for teens and those with BDD, and it is important for providers to understand the implications of social media on body image to better treat and counsel our patients."