Jeremy Ports #8

iPhone App Puts Plastic Surgeon in Your Pocket [ABCNews.com]
November 18, 2009 9:20 AM

Ever wonder what you’d look like with a smaller nose or slimmer waist?

Thanks to a new iPhone application, you won’t have to visit a plastic surgeon to find out.

Launched by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Salzhauer of Bay Harbor Islands, Fla., the iSurgeon application uses photo-editing technology to modify user-uploaded images.

Want to see how you’d look after a tummy tuck or breast augmentation?

Just upload a picture of yourself and click a few buttons. The application will generate a picture of what you’d look like post-op.

The “instant makeover” app also includes other procedures Salzhauer offers in his practice, including cheek implants, face-lifts, lip enhancements and ear reshaping.

iSurgeon has not yet been approved by Apple, but Salzhauer’s office expects the application to be available any day now in Apple’s App Store.

“iSurgeon serves a dual purpose, providing those interested in cosmetic surgery treatments with a clear visual of what they would look like post-surgery, while also providing a fun entertaining game tool,” Salzhauer said in a statement.

The application, which is available in a $0.99 “lite” version and $1.99 “pro” version, comes with a Game Mode and Advanced Surgery Mode.

The Game Mode lets you play the role of a plastic surgeon and “operate” on preprogrammed images. At the start of the game, you’re given hints about the “patient’s” desired outcome. The goal is to come as close as possible to creating that look.

In the surgery mode, users can modify images of themselves and friends and then share the results via Facebook and e-mail.

I was shocked upon reading this article. It is saying that you can have a picture of yourself and see how you will look with different body features. This is giving people the false idea of beauty and may invoke more people to engage in plastic surgery. On the other spectrum of this application it may encourage people to start losing weight. This application needs to not be geared towards plastic surgery though. It also says that once completed with a picture that you can share them on internet networking sites. This can become a problem and I think this article promotes the application in a wrond sense.