2 days ago
Ashley's algorithm changed when she got engaged. It almost cost her $1700
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Ashley Brooks-Garrett never really considered Botox until she got engaged and her social media algorithm changed. Suddenly, her TikTok and Instagram feeds were full of photos of perfect brides and posts about cosmetic procedures, from affordable skin treatments to pricey Botox and filler. Cosmetic procedures – especially nonsurgical ones – are becoming a popular part of wedding preparation, with US aesthetics company RealSelf reporting that wedding-related cosmetic procedure reviews rose by 30 per cent in 2019 alone. Ashley Brooks-Garrett didn't consider cosmetic procedures like Botox until she got engaged and her social media algorithm changed. (Supplied) Wedding websites provide "beauty timelines" instructing brides on when to undergo specific procedures, cosmetic clinics promote bridal packages, and social media is awash with brides-to-be showing off their before and after photos. The result is an intense pressure to join in, one that almost cost Brooks-Garrett $1700. "Being bombarded with images of perfect brides constantly on social media definitely played a part in the pressure I felt to look a certain way," she told "Society expects you to be absolutely perfect for one whole day and it's absolutely impossible ... it left me in a huge state of panic." Have you got a story? Contact reporter Maddison Leach at mleach@ So she traded her Aldi cleanser for a $250 skincare routine, spent $900 on facials and booked $600 worth of Botox. Clinical psychologist and co-founder of ReadyMind Cosmetic Psychology Dr Toni Pikoos said Brooks-Garrett isn't the first bride to be sucked in by social media pressure to look perfect and she won't be the last. These days, influencers and everyday women publicise their cosmetic procedures on social media, normalising what used to be a taboo experience. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, it can have a huge impact on brides. "The narrative around cosmetic procedures in society is really shifting towards this view of them being part of self-care and empowerment," Pikoos said. "When you're bombarded with that sort of messaging, you start to feel like, 'That's what I'm supposed to be doing for the big day as well.'" Specialist medical practitioner Dr Imaan Joshi said pressure may prompt brides to undergo procedures they don't need or may regret. "I do think that it's a little bit predatory, for lack of a better word, to start suggesting all these things to young women who don't actually need anything," she said. "But social media presents it as just another thing you do on your path to getting married." Brooks-Garrett admits she almost fell into that trap but ended up cancelling her $600 Botox less than 24 hours beforehand. "I panicked," she said, adding that she wanted to "look like herself" in wedding photos. Brooks-Garrett cancelled her Botox appointment because she wanted to "look like herself" on her wedding day. (Supplied) She also "couldn't justify the expense" on top of all her other wedding costs but some Australian brides get around that by travelling overseas for cheaper cosmetic procedures in a practice known as medical tourism. David Allen, chief executive of medical tourism operator Asthetica, said business is booming in Australia and brides-to-be are interested in travelling to Turkey for eyebrow transplants, dental veneers and teeth whitening on a budget. Some have also inquired about more invasive procedures, including liposuction, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), gastric sleeve surgery, and rhinoplasty. Allen said Asthetica, which only works with JCI and ISO accredited hospitals, will service "a minimum" of 15 Australian brides by the end of the year. "Historically, women would purchase a wedding dress a size or two too small and use it as their motivation to be their best on the big day," he said. Now they're "seeking something with longevity" in the form of cosmetic procedures, with some brides- and grooms-to-be even booking "couples surgery" together. Joshi said that social media has "trivialised" medical tourism, as users sharing their positive experiences on TikTok and Instagram often leave out the risks. "It's normalised to the extent where people think that it's no different to getting your hair done or your nails done, but it's not," she said. "You have no idea about the qualifications of the person that you see in a foreign country. You have no idea about the system [or] what they can and can't safely do." Pikoos added that Australian brides need to be educated about the potential of undergoing cosmetic procedures overseas, especially in countries that don't have the same standards or regulations as Australia. "You hear terrible horror stories," she said. Social media has put more pressure than ever on brides to look a certain way and while some may be happy with the results of cosmetic procedures performed in Australia or abroad, Pikoos wants all brides to examine why they want these procedures. If it's due to shame, embarrassment or anxiety, she suggested addressing those emotions before forking out for a procedure they may regret or be disappointed by. Joshi added that while investing in skincare can boost brides' confidence, they need to understand the risks and long-term implications of more invasive procedures. Brooks-Garrett is glad she invested $1150 in her skin but cancelled her Botox appointment. (Supplied) Looking at her wedding photos now, Brooks-Garrett is glad she invested $1150 in skincare and facials but cancelled her $600 Botox appointment. "As women, we are made to feel that so much of our worth is tied up in our looks, as if our appearance is central to our value," she said. "But my face is so expressive and you can see exactly what I was feeling ... love and pure joy." national
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