There are more and more people showing up at plastic surgeons’ offices with the aim of looking like images created by Artificial Intelligence, which are often not even medically possible.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the plastic surgery industry, with doctors reporting a growing number of patients arriving at appointments armed not with celebrity photos but with AI-generated versions of themselves.
Aesthetic dermatologist Rachel Westbay said she was impressed earlier this year when a patient at her New York clinic presented with a cartoon image generated by ChatGPT. The image showed overly large eyes, artificially voluminous lips and flawless skin.
“It’s like saying I want to look like Ariel from ‘The Little Mermaid,’” she told .
The rise of AI imagers and beautification filters is creating a new challenge for plastic surgeons and dermatologists, who are increasingly tasked with dealing with unrealistic expectations fueled by technology. Patients are using tools like ChatGPT, Nano Banana and specialized editing apps to imagine idealized versions of themselves before seeking cosmetic procedures.
The phenomenon of taking inspiration photos to the office is not new. “Years ago, patients arrived with a photograph cut out of Vogue. This would be a warning sign if you walked into my office and showed me a photo of Gisele Bündchen or Claudia Schiffer,” explains Justin Sacks, a reconstructive plastic surgeon at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
With the rise of filters and AI, patients now use optimized images of themselves. Research published last year by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that people who frequently used AI-enhanced images had significantly higher expectations in relation to the results of plastic surgery.
Doctors say the images often reflect a generic “Bratz doll” aesthetic: big eyes, well-defined jaws, thin waists and exaggerated lips. Although these features may appear attractive in a digitally altered image, many are physically impossible to achieve surgically.
Plastic surgeon Steven Williams said he regularly receives requests for AI-generated images for rhinoplasties, breast augmentations and body contouring procedures. “Pixels are easier than surgery“, he observed.
Doctors now spend more and more time explaining why certain digitally generated results cannot be replicated. Some AI images create nose shapes that would make breathing difficult or waists so narrow they wouldn’t leave room for internal organs.
“Bodies are not made of clay” said Williams. “There are physiological systems that we need to protect.”
Still, many surgeons believe AI also holds promise for the future of medicine. Justin Sacks argues that technology could in the future help doctors create more accurate visual simulations for procedures such as breast reconstruction after cancer surgery.
Experts urge patients to think deeply about why they want to undergo surgery.
“What are your expectations?” asks Williams. “If it’s a new job, a new relationship or a change in social status, this is a warning sign.”
