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Is TikTok a Tool for Self-Diagnosis? Lougheed’s Dr. Nadarajah Featured on Globe & Mail

Written by Lougheed Laser Centre | Jun 2, 2023 8:37:36 PM

Dr. Sangeetha Nadarajah, a physician at our very own Lougheed Laser Centre, was recently featured in the Globe & Mail. She shares interesting insights on the new and evolving landscape of social media and how it can influence the desire for specific cosmetic procedures. 

As a millennial physician, Dr. Nadarajah shares her unique advantage when it comes to her familiarity with TikTok and Instagram trends. Given her own interest in social media, she can quickly recognize an Instagram or TikTok trend that may have inspired a patient's self-diagnosis.  

“These days, social media is flooded with health ”hacks,” opinions and experiences from people around the world, both well-respected experts and ordinary people alike. As a result, I often encounter patients who have “self-triaged” or self-diagnosed a potential health issue using information they saw online before setting foot in my office. - Dr. Nadarajah, Globe & Mail 

To read the full Globe & Mail article, click here.  

Who is Dr. Nadarajah? 

With a passion to innovate and champion positive change in the Health and Wellness spectrum, Dr. Sangeetha Nadarajah brings a fresh & much needed perspective to women's health.  

⁠She is a Board-Certified Family Physician holding a certificate from the College of Family Physicians of Canada and is a Diplomat of the American Board of Family Medicine. She specializes in Integrative Medicine, myoactivation trigger point therapy, and women's health. Her interests include evidence-based yoga as medicine research, integrative aesthetics, and food as medicine. Dr. Nadarajah is the first doctor in BC to complete her culinary medicine certificate. 

 

What Medical Aesthetic Treatments are Trending on TikTok now? 

 

Baby Botox 

Often referenced on social media, Baby Botox refers to the preventative use of Neuromodulators in your early to mid-twenties. By injecting small doses of neuromodulators in the face before fine lines and wrinkles appear, you can proactively relax the muscles and avoid these unwanted lines all together 

The Lip Flip  

The Lip Flip is a common use of Neuromodulators to remedy an overly gummy smile. By injecting a small amount of neuromodulator into specific muscles around the upper lip, the muscles are temporarily relaxed, causing the upper lip to gently flip upward. 

Buccal Fat Removal or Masseter Muscle Botox 

Super models, like Bella Hadid, are known for their slim jawline and “snatched” facial shape. With social media buzz, this appearance has become highly sought after, causing procedures like Buccal Fat Removal or Masseter Muscle Botox to trend.  

Masseter muscle Botox is much more popular as it is minimally invasive. Injections of neuromodulator to the Masseter muscle cause this muscle to relax, and in turn, shrink the jawline.  

Non-Surgical Nose Job 

A non-surgical nose job, also known as a liquid rhinoplasty, is a procedure that involves using dermal fillers to reshape and enhance the appearance of the nose without the need for surgery. The procedure typically involves injecting fillers strategically to smooth out bumps, improve symmetry, or lift the tip of the nose, providing temporary but noticeable results. 

 

The Benefit of Using Social Media for Research 

 

Dr. Nadarajah has an enlightened opinion when it comes to the benefit of these social media trends.  

“Access to health information is an essential social determinant of health, and in an ideal scenario, social media can improve our access to this information. Online, people can benefit from listening to a reputable health care provider’s expertise, or hear inspirational stories from those sharing their real-life health experiences. Social media provides a safe space for discussion because people can be anonymous, which can help them be more honest and vulnerable. TikTok viral health trends are prompting patients to actually go to their doctor’s office to discuss what they saw online and how it might relate to their own health, providing them with both the language and confidence to do so.” - Dr. Nadarajah, Globe & Mail 

Social media can be a fantastic tool to discover treatment options and learn about their benefits before even stepping into our clinic at Delta Skin & Laser Centre.  

 

The Importance of Consulting an Expert 

 

While social media can be a great tool to find inspiration, discover treatment options, and crowd source personal testimonials, it is important to always consult a physician to determine the ideal treatment plan for you. 

“Since it can be hard to tell which information on social media is truly evidence-based (and not misinformation), I always recommend evaluating any of the information you find online with a licensed health care professional.” - Dr. Nadarajah, Globe & Mail 

 

Book a Consultation with Dr. Nadarajah at Lougheed Laser Centre 

 

Discuss your favourite TikTok trends in-person with Dr. Nadarajah!  

At Lougheed Centre, Dr. Nadarajah is available for consultations. Book a Consultation today!