Ist "operiert" das neue "normal"? Schönheitswahn in Italien | #trending

Italy ranks first in Europe for cosmetic procedures, ahead of Germany and France. Social media plays a major role in this, both as a driver of body ideals and as an advertising platform for cosmetic surgery. While many sectors of the economy faltered during the pandemic, the plastic surgery industry boomed even further: people had more time to focus on their appearance. Constant video calls revealed wrinkles, crooked noses, and thin lips that had previously gone unnoticed. The so-called "downtime" after surgery is also easier to conceal, since there are no social events anyway, and swelling and bruising can be easily hidden under a mask. Surgeons have experienced a veritable surge in patients at their practices – at the same time, cosmetic surgery is becoming less taboo, thanks to advertising, influencers who model it, and especially social media, where pre- and post-surgical videos and photos are increasingly shared. Hashtags like #rhinoplasty and #plasticsurgery have billions of views on TikTok. And especially in times of social media, Facetune apps, and body ideals like those exemplified by Kim Kardashian, the trend seems to be just getting started. #trending reporter Tori Reichel traveled to Italy—a place where cosmetic surgery is now often considered fashionable—and spoke with a plastic surgeon and young people to find out where this trend actually comes from and where it's headed. #trending is a reportage format for international news coverage: unvarnished and direct, highly personalized, with a point of view, close to the action but measured against the highest journalistic standards. Our reporters scour the web for #trending. We search for trending topics and find incredible stories from around the globe. And then? Let's travel to the people who have followed a trend or actively contribute content, and delve into the topic with them: to conflicts, wars, social movements, to personal stories, situations, subcultures, and milieus that lie behind this trend, behind the online world. ---- Here on ZDFheute News, you'll find out what's happening in the world and what affects us all: We provide clarity in the world of news, explain the background, and address social debates. Join us for live discussions and form your own opinion based on the facts we present. Subscribe to our channel so you don't miss anything. Stay up-to-date at http://www.ZDFheute.de/.