THE DRIFT INTO DISTORTION
The term is new, but aesthetic practitioners say ‘perception drift’ has been around for a long time. So how can you avoid forgetting what your own face looks like?
COMPILED BY CHARLOTTE JOLLY. PHOTO: STOCKSY
Many of us will be guilty of making judgmental comments about a celebrity’s appearance after a series of cosmetic treatments; from bulging foreheads to overfilled cheeks. “Can’t they see what they look like?” you might think. The answer is probably “no”.
Back in 2019, Dr Sabrina Fabi, a dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon, coined the term “perception drift” to sum up how a patient’s perception of what they look like can become skewed over time. At consultation, most patients say they want a natural result, but once an area of concern is treated and the patient’s appearance changes, some will start to fixate on previously overlooked features, setting a new baseline. It’s possible to fall into an endless cycle.