“Looksmaxxing” influencer Braden Peters, known as Clavicular, was hospitalized after a suspected overdose during a are living circulation he was doing in a restaurant in the South Miami Avenue area of Miami, which he interrupted when he began to slur his words and repeat phrases, showed signs of disorientation and could barely keep his head up.
The 20-year-old content creator described the experience as brutal, mentioning substance use to try to fit in socially. Whether it is because he is practicing what he preaches with looksmaxxing, or for another reason, what is clear is that vanity and social pressure influence the result with a powerful force.
“Looksmaxxing” is a trend on social networks that seeks aesthetic improvement through methods that vary from skin care routines to extreme practices, such as severe physical alterations.
This phenomenon has captured the attention of young men, often facing serious consequences.
“In my practice, we have seen it mainly in young men in their 20s,” he told Fox Information Digital Dr. Josef Hadeed, plastic surgeon from Beverly Hills, California. He noted that, although there have been some women, “in general, it has been men who have come to our office looking for these various procedures to improve their appearance.”
Consequences of extreme practices
Plastic surgery experts warn that many looksmaxxing procedures can be dangerous.
“The difference today is that the tools and technologies available to achieve this have never been so advanced or so accessible,” explains Hadeed.
Looksmaxxing can be divided into two categories: “softmaxxing” and “hardmaxxing”, the first being the most widespread and least invasive.
Specialists highlight the risks associated with treatments carried out without adequate medical supervision and warn about the normalization of drastic techniques in online communities.
Influence of social networks
Social pressure driven by digital platforms appears to be a key driver behind the rise of looksmaxxing. It has been observed that constant comparison with others can lead to body dysmorphia, particularly affecting young people.
“Social media can make procedures seem easy or risk-free, but even minimally invasive treatments carry real risks if performed incorrectly or by an untrained professional,” he told Fox Information Digital Dr. C. Bob Basu, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Despite the risks, experts suggest that a conscious and balanced approach to looksmaxxing can bring benefits, such as improving self-esteem through healthy habits, including exercise and proper self-care. It is emphasized that any action related to aesthetic improvement must be guided by qualified professionals to avoid harmful consequences.
Perception of beauty
Social networks strongly influence the perception of beauty because they put into circulation certain aesthetic ideals that are imitated and considered “normal” in different cultures, but they can also amplify diversity and question traditional stereotypes.
Globalized beauty standards
Platforms like instagram, TikTok either Facebook They tend to promote thin bodies, light skin, “perfect” features and young ages, causing many users to compare their appearance with edited or filtered images. This constant comparison can generate body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem and anxiety, especially in adolescents and young people.
In cultures where these ideals do not coincide with traditional canons (for example, cultures that value healthy weight or regional traits more), digital pressure can generate conflict between what is native and what is “world” seen on networks.
Diversity and cultural resistance
- Networks allow bodies, sizes, skin tones and beauty styles to be seen that were previously barely visible in traditional media. Movements such as “physique sure”, the visibility of indigenous, Afro-descendant or curvy beauty help to question unique ideals and value more the diversity within each culture.
- This opens the possibility that, instead of everyone converging towards the same finest, different communities use networks to reaffirm or redefine what it means to “be beautiful” according to their own cultural values.
Filters, editing and realism
- Frequent use of filters, photo editing and photoshop It generates a version of beauty that is aesthetic but unrealistic, which distorts both individual and collective perception. This can reinforce prejudices (for example, against aging, “atypical” bodies or specific cultural traits) and make it difficult to accept one’s own appearance.
- At the same time, discourses that promote self-care, comprehensive health, and body acceptance help some people use networks as a tool of empowerment, rather than as a source of pressure.
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