For better or for worse, social networks and all the content generated daily are part of our routine, but especially for the youngest who, unintentionally, fall into beauty trends and into aesthetic standards that could affect their physical and mental state in the long term.
One of the latest cases is the obsession with facial harmony. But how can a concept as ancient as Greece creep into the youngest? The answer is found in an (apparently) innocent TikTok filter that, besides being entertainment, could generate an indirect pull to make unnecessary decisions regarding cosmetic alterations that worry doctors and psychologists the most.
On TikTok, it has become fashionable to “measure the face” with a filter that divides it into three sections (upper third, middle third, and lower third) with measurements of 33 mm based on the Golden Ratio. Many women are becoming obsessed with not meeting these measurements and talk about having a face that is too elongated, lacking perfect facial harmony.
To provide information and know more precisely what facial harmony is, what it is for, and why it has slipped into TikTok without greater scientific rigor, we spoke with the surgeon Dr. Gullón of the Femm Clinic – Institución Gournay.
Una imagen del filtro de simetría facial de TikTok.
What is facial harmony
“Facial harmony is an aesthetic concept that seeks balance among the facial proportions: how the forehead, nose, cheekbones, lips, jaw, and chin relate to one another. It is not about “perfection,” but about features fitting in a balanced and pleasing way. The most commonly used criteria include:
• Vertical proportions (thirds of the face).
• Horizontal proportions (fifths of the face).
• Symmetry (both sides being similar, although absolute symmetry does not exist).
• Angles such as nasolabial, mentolabial, chin projection, etc.
• Sometimes the golden ratio is used, though it is more of an aesthetic reference than a scientific standard«, explains the doctor.
How the TikTok filter works
“This facial symmetry filter simply duplicates half of the face to show what it would look like if it were completely symmetrical. They do not come from a scientific origin; they are very old recreational visual tools, used for years in photo apps before TikTok. Some filters overlay a mask with proportions derived from the golden ratio mask popularized by plastic surgeon Stephen Marquardt in the 2000s. The mask gained fame on social networks for its relation to the supposed beauty ideal».
“Nevertheless, TikTok did not invent this concept: it simply incorporated a digital version of the pattern to make it viral. We have seen the filter “bond glamour” that relies on AI models to transform the face according to current aesthetic trends (more defined chin, slimmer nose, flawless skin). These transformations do not follow a scientific proportion; they derive from training the model on thousands of faces. Therefore, the result may not align with an aesthetic criterion in the strict sense.”
How this TikTok filter affects health
Dr. Gullón is clear: in most cases, if this TikTok filter causes concern or insecurity, the source of information for young people remains the same. And this is the most dangerous part. “Ignoring the advice of a health professional and basing aesthetic decisions solely on social networks has several important implications, for both health and self-image,” the expert states. What are they?
“Wrong diagnoses, a TikTok filter or an aesthetic trend does not know your skin type, your bone structure, your musculature, your real proportions, or your medical history. Unrealistic expectations that distort normal symmetry and distort facial identity increase insecurity, can generate anxiety or body dissatisfaction“.
This can lead to seeking quick solutions with fillers that are neither safe nor reliable with “untrained people injecting substances, poorly explained techniques, unsafe product mixtures, advice lacking scientific evidence, infections, asymmetries caused by unskilled hands, allergic reactions, irreversible results, repeated treatments without criteria or costly corrections. Professionals follow protocols, know anatomy and know how to respond to complications. Social networks do not,” explains the doctor.
A widespread problem in consultation
The obsession with facial harmony and the aesthetic distortion induced by these filters is not an isolated case; it is a widespread problem in modern consultations, according to Dr. Gullón, a case for which professionals themselves must also be prepared.
“Standards change quickly and viral aesthetic trends emerge: large-volume lips, defined jawline, high cheekbones, sculpted nose, perfect skin, etc. The appearance of filters that ‘predict’ the desired aesthetic result or show an abstract ideal. This has directly impacted patients’ expectations,” confirms the surgeon.
“Our duty as specialists is to clarify that this is an aesthetic ideal, but anatomy, proportions and structure do not always allow that result without compromising naturalness or function. Each face is unique and treatments have anatomical and safety limits. Filters exaggerate proportions, smooth details, and that is not always clinically achievable. Expectations come from idealized digital models and patients do not always understand these anatomical limitations«.
“Now, more than ever, the professional must listen to what the patient wants, evaluate their anatomy, translate digital expectations into realistic solutions, explain risks and possibilities, and propose a safe and personalized plan,” concludes Dr. Gullón.
