From our faces to fashion, 2022 seems to be all about finding happiness through self-care and even improved appearances. Sound vain? It’s not. Researchers have long known that how we look directly impacts how we feel. Here are a few ways people are putting that truth into action this year.
Dopamine Dressing: Bringing Joy to the Everyday
Dopamine dressing is all about dressing joyfully (Bright colors! Rich textures!) to trigger the release of dopamine, the “happiness hormone.” Spoiler: It can work.
Wearing things that make us feel good—most of us have done this over the years and felt the value of it,” says Ivona Percec, MD, PhD, Associate Director of Penn Cosmetic Surgery at Penn Medicine.
The difference today is that dopamine dressing is increasingly intentional and trending—a key part of a toolkit for improving mental health and self-expression. Another tool that’s gaining momentum in 2022? Cosmetic procedures. Unlike dressing intentionally, though, cosmetic procedures require some careful consideration
Cosmetic Procedures: Increasing Confidence and Mood
In 2021, designer Marc Jacobs posted a post-operative selfie to social media with the caption #LiveLoveLift. More recently, Amy Schumer acknowledged her liposuction procedure alongside a bathing suit pic. “I feel good,” the comedian wrote.
The normalization of cosmetic procedures has led to more people undergoing them. Non-surgical procedures in particular are picking up steam as relatively low risk ways of improving appearance. But before you turn to cosmetic procedures in an effort to boost your happiness, ask yourself the question Dr. Percec asks all prospective patients:
Why?
“What are you trying to achieve with an intervention?” Dr. Percec asks. “Is it purely anatomical, like, 'I want to smooth out the tip of my nose because it’s crooked and it bothers me?' Or is it driven by something bigger?
She points out that a smoother nose can’t revive marriages, get back at high school bullies, or offset other bothersome areas of the body.
“The idea that cosmetic procedures can unlock happiness is a delicate one,” she says. “Because pinning unrealistic expectations on cosmetic procedures can become a source of regret or a slippery slope.
So is a cosmetic procedure ever a good choice for people looking to feel better about themselves? When expectations are realistic, Dr. Percec says, the answer is yes.
“Your facial appearance in particular is your identity. For patients with realistic motivations and expectations, small improvements can help them feel their best selves. There's a strong synergy between the body and mind. Today more than ever before, patients have a broader, safer, more natural portfolio of tools to choose from. Making this decision from a grounded place of clarity, it most certainly can boost patients' larger outlook in the near future and for years to come.
For most of us, feeling good was harder these past few years. Luckily, there are more options than ever before for boosting our appearances and, in doing so, potentially boosting our confidence, outlook, and mood. Use your best judgment, have a little fun, and don’t be surprised if the feel-good feelings follow.