The re-touching debate rages

Photoshop and other retouching software packages have come under fire in recent years especially when they're used for the purpose of advertising.  According to recent Glamour magazine article the pushback against advertisers who regularly Photoshop their models is becoming an increasing trend. According to the articlemajor health organizations, like the American Medical Association, are calling for advertisers to tone down their tweaking because of the negative impact it’s been proven to have on body image. And the political world is taking notice too. Legislation was introduced in 2009 in France that would require retouched ads to carry a label disclosing that fact; similar proposals are circulating in the United Kingdom and Norway. Women are buzzing about the extent of retouching in personal images too. “When my friends and I look at pictures on dating sites or Facebook,” says Katie Amey, 23, of New York City, “we always ask each other, ‘Is that what they really look like?’ Because we know people are retouching.” While this practice is hardly a large global threat it does impact body image and the concept people have of beauty. Dr. O'Toole explains to his patients that what is seen in print or the television medium should never be viewed as a guideline for everyone. Patients should not pursue procedures like rhinoplasty or breast augmentation based on a look they found in a magazine or on the Internet. Dr. O'Toole takes his position as a board-certified plastic surgeon very seriously and works with each patient one on one to ensure that their expectations are realistic and able to be met by choosing cosmetic plastic surgery.