Tweakment Blindness: Do We Really Know What Our Faces Look Like Anymore?

Did you initially hesitate about taking the tweakments plunge for fear of looking unnatural, but now crave your next toxin or filler appointment as it doesn’t feel like ‘enough’? How confident are you that you would actually know when you’ve taken cosmetic procedures too far? Those are all questions being raised by renewed discussions about ‘tweakment blindness’ – a concept that has us at TTG Towers asking – how well do we really know our faces, especially after aesthetic treatments?

As well as potentially explaining why celebrities sometimes seem to take things (way) too far with toxin and filler, ‘tweakment blindness’ and the process by which it occurs – a phenomenon called ‘perception drift’ –  is definitely something to bear in mind before your next aesthetic appointment. Here’s what you need to know. And, most importantly, how to avoid it affecting your face (and your confidence)…

What is perception drift?

The term perception drift was first coined by the American dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon Dr Sabrina Fabi, in 2019. It describes the psychological phenomenon whereby patients risk developing a skewed sense of their own appearance after multiple cosmetic procedures. Specifically, patients appear to forget how their faces looked before they started, which can ultimately lead them to desire more and more ‘work’, as their baseline idea of their appearance has changed.

Perception drift can also happen on a society level – so without you going under the knife (or needle). Consider how social media and reality TV has led us to see more and more imagery of people with certain facial features – like very plump lips or extremely smooth skin. This repeated exposure can slowly but surely alter our perception of what is normal or attractive. Case in point, the recent demand for lip and cheek filler, as people seek out treatments that align with the appearances of social media and TV stars. This has been dubbed the ‘Love Island’ effect.

What are the consequences of perception drift?

Tweakment blindness can be the direct result of perception drift – it’s when you become totally desensitised to the changes you’ve made to your appearance. This ‘blindness’ can lead you to seek more (potentially unnecessary) procedures, and may cause an overly artificial or exaggerated appearance without you initially realising it. Some of the most common consequences of tweakment blindness are overly plumped lips – ‘perception drift’ seems especially common with lip filler; very prominent cheekbones; and/or a frozen face – even after you initially came in saying you wanted a natural-looking result.

Unfortunately, tweakment blindness doesn’t just influence your appearance, it can have negative consequences for your confidence too. Ultimately, it can mean that no tweakment becomes ‘good enough’, meaning you are no longer happy or quite aware of how you really look, similar to Body Dysmorphia. At the same time, you could end up spending money you don’t need (or don’t have) in your constant quest for perceived improvements that you’ll never quite be content with.

What puts you at greater risk?

While they give you more subtle results, it’s actually the non-invasive and minimally invasive tweaks that can trigger perception drift the most. That’s because tweakments such as toxins and fillers can often yield gradual results that slowly change how your face looks without you quite noticing… until their effect builds up over time.

If you have a tendency to follow trends or have a personality type that leans towards perfectionism, you can also be more easily influenced by perception drift. This is because you are more likely to want to try something new (and do more and more of it) to achieve your goals, while being less likely to be 100 per cent satisfied with your results.

What can you do to avoid tweakment blindness?

The best way to avoid tweakments blindness is to have a thorough consultation with a trusted aesthetic practitioner (like those in our practitioner finder) before every procedure, even if you’ve had something like toxin or filler before. An open dialogue with an expert can ensure your thoughts about your appearance marry up to reality, and it’s also a good opportunity to look at your previous before-and-after photos (and any pictures from before having any tweakments at all). These can act as a visual reminder about your ‘natural’ face and what you want to preserve.

Try to avoid chopping and changing who you see for your tweakments too (as long as you are happy with their work). This allows you to build a rapport and means your practitioner can spot any deviations from what might look ‘natural’ for you. Likewise, get second opinions if you can pre-treatment – whether that’s a partner, family member or friend. It can actually be most effective if you speak to someone you trust but who you don’t necessarily see everyday. That way they are more likely to notice the more gradual changes to your face, which you can miss when looking at yourself everyday in the mirror.