Cosmetic surgery is becoming more and more mainstream, with social media playing a big part in the rise of procedures especially among millennials. Now, cosmetic surgery giveaways on Instagram are potentially posing a danger to young women who strive for the images of ‘perfection’ seen on the platform.
Clinics have long been advertising everything from lip fillers to breast enhancement on social media, however it is suggested the rise in cosmetic surgery giveaways make the procedures dangerously accessible and commonplace.
Typically, users simply regram, like and share posts for a chance to win, with brands receiving free advertising in the process.
While the trend for giveaways isn’t prevalent in New Zealand, in the UK and US they are becoming more common. Companies offer followers the chance to win everything from free jawline, lip and cheek surgery, and some even give away surgical treatments for an entire year.
Although the giveaways normalise the idea of invasive cosmetic surgery, and could play on the physical insecurities of young people, women still eagerly enter the competitions and love having the chance to win.
A woman who won fillers through an Instagram competition told Refinery29: "I only had to give an Instagram account a follow and I won the fillers. I’d never had them done before, but I absolutely love them and would definitely get them again," she said. "Now that I know it’s not a scam, I would actively search for more giveaways on Instagram."
Life coach and mental-health expert, Geeta Sidhu-Robb, explained to Refinery29: “Surgery is something that should be taken seriously and carefully researched, rather than given away to a mass market without proper knowledge of any health repercussions. All treatments need to be met with the adequate health checks beforehand, as people react in different ways to different things.”
