Online Application – The Virtual Surgery

THE VIRTUAL SURGERY

What I propose is an online application highlighting the dangers, and long term effects that plastic surgery could have on an individual. Aesthetically, the application will replicate a virtual environment, where the user will upload a photo of themselves along with information regarding their body and lifestyle (body measurements, diet, health issues, exercise routine etc). From the information provided, the application will create an avatar of the user, where the user can proceed to manipulate their features, selecting which surgery they would like. Although there are applications that already exist to allow you to do such things (i.e. I-surgery), the USP of the ‘virtual surgery’ will be to highlight the entire process of plastic surgery, including the recovery, health risks, and what the surgery may look like in years to come.

After manipulating their features with the application, they will be directed to the surgery where they will get an insight into the procedure of the surgery performed. Illustrating post surgery recovery, they will view the recovery method to their particular surgery, and advice on how to respond to the treatment. The final stage of the application will be to represent the user when they are much older, and how the surgery now looks, as the natural causes of old age takes over. Adjacent to this image will be a natural version of the user, surgery free, where they can determine which version of themselves they prefer. 

The application could be used as a form of a campaign highlighting the dangers of plastic surgery, where users can physically see the harm they could cause themselves, if not now, then in the future. Understanding all aspects of the procedure is also very important to stress to individuals who are considering the surgery, therefore this campaign could be used to as a mobile application visiting cities, Universities etc, creating an awareness, and advertising the online version of the application, and website which could be incorporated to the product.

The need of this application will be to provide access to information regarding plastic surgery, within a virtual online application, providing personal feedback on the procedures of plastic surgery, and the outcome it may have on ‘your’ body.  Being able to discuss these insecurities anonymously, with others who regret plastic surgeries, and professionals who are willing to discuss these matters.

The benefit of the application would allow a clearer perspective about what plastic surgery EXACTLY involves. Selecting the surgery may be easy, but understanding the procedure, the recovery process, and visualising what the surgery will look like in years to come, may put things in perspective for many people. Once the user has viewed their ‘avatar’ self with the cosmetic surgery, they will have the option to see what they will look like in the future if they didn’t have the surgery (information will be required at the beginning of the application such as body measurements, dietary requirement, health issues and daily routine, the image outcome will be based on the specific information inputted.

With the increase of TV programmes such as ’10 years younger, How to look good Naked’ and leading up to the season where the media focus on body image the most, it would be an ideal opportunity to use the publicity of the topic matter to drive the launch of the application and supporting website. Channel 4 would be the main broadcaster to seek funding for this project considering their output of programmes such as 10 years younger and how to look good naked (possible 4ip proposal)

There are applications already available such as ‘I-Surgeon’ That allows you to manipulate a ‘sim’ version of yourself with cosmetic surgery. The USP of ‘Body Image’ is that it provides a representation of all the steps of plastic surgery.

Unlike girls, men are less likely to talk to women about body image. The website will primarily be focused to attract a male audience, but essentially for all. The reason for this being, that there are many men who take pride in their appearance, but find it hard to talk to friends or relatives about issues, insecurities they may have about themselves.

There are many applications that allow you to upload an image of yourself, and allow you to manipulate your features according to the plastic surgery you want done. But what’s important to consider, and not well considered, is what this can effectively damage, and what the outcome of this surgery will look like in years to come.