A 29-year-old woman has disclosed how years of using social media filters distorted her self-image so severely that she paid $10,000 (£7,439) for surgery to correct a flaw that only existed digitally.
The Filtered Childhood That Fueled Insecurity
Aspen Brook, from Orange County, California, began using digital filters at the age of 12 in an attempt to fit in at school. The filters, which smoothed her skin, slimmed her nose, and enhanced her bone structure, became a constant in her life. "Looking back through my camera roll at that time, I don't really have very many photos without me using a filter," she told the Daily Mail. "I didn't think that I was pretty at all without using them."
Despite growing up in a strict Mormon household, her parents did not recognise the potential harm of the filters. This constant digital alteration led Aspen to develop Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), a mental health condition where a person becomes obsessively focused on perceived flaws, often leading to anxiety and depression.
The Costly Pursuit of a Digital Illusion
After years of using apps like FaceTune to tweak her appearance, Aspen became convinced she had a double chin, seeing it "every time" she looked in the mirror. This obsession drove her to undergo AirSculpt surgery in San Diego in April 2023. The procedure, marketed as minimally invasive, promised permanent fat removal without scalpels or stitches.
Her recovery involved wearing a chin strap 24 hours a day for two weeks, followed by four weeks of wearing it only while sleeping. However, the surgery did not cure her insecurities. "After getting the surgery, I was sure I would be finally happy... But that wasn't the case," she admitted, confessing she continued to use filters heavily afterwards.
Healing Through Motherhood and a Stark Warning
The unexpected turning point came with the unplanned arrival of her daughter nine months post-surgery. Pregnancy, with its weight gain and loss of bodily control, forced her to confront her perfectionism. "It gave me the chance to really pause and sit with myself," she said. Seeing her daughter's perfection helped her find compassion for her younger self.
Looking back, Aspen now believes she was "so beautiful" before any surgery. She is convinced her teenage exposure to filters directly caused her condition, stating, "Your mind is so impressionable at a very young age." As a result, she plans to be "very strict" with her own daughter's access to phones and editing features, likely until she is 16 or 17.
While not against cosmetic procedures in general, Aspen strongly warns against people with BDD seeking surgery. Her advice is to find an ethical practitioner and ensure the motivation is for the "right reasons." Her story serves as a powerful caution about the long-term psychological impact of living in a digitally filtered world.
