The term looksmaxxing has originated in Gen Z internet culture and was initially used in niche online communities to describe efforts to optimise one’s appearance through grooming, fitness, and self-care. However, today, it has evolved into a broader, more intense phenomenon, fuelled by not only social media and influencer culture but also by AI-assisted photo and video editing tools.
What was once self-improvement has sadly now become hyper-optimisation. We are witnessing a generation exposed to faces that are not just enhanced but digitally perfected in real time. Filters can perfectly smooth skin, sharpen jawlines, and alter proportions within seconds. AI tools can refine images with a single prompt. The result is a growing disconnect between digital identity and real-life appearance, often creating a discontent even when the face or hairline might already be in a good state.
In clinical practice, this gap is becoming more and more evident. Patients often arrive with highly edited references or celebrity photographs, expecting similar results in reality. However, real skin has texture, biology, and limitations. Real life improvement takes time and working not only on the surface level but also on biology. It cannot be 'blurred' or 'reset' instantly like an image with a filter or prompt. This mismatch between expectation and possibility can lead to dissatisfaction, over-treatment, or repeated procedures in pursuit of an unrealistic standard.
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This is where the role of the dermatologist becomes especially important. The role of an aesthetic dermatologist is about being patient’s guide in translating desire into something medically appropriate and sustainable. That means:
- Explaining what is realistically achievable
- Respecting anatomical boundaries
- Avoiding unnecessary or excessive interventions
- Prioritising long-term facial balance over short-term perfection
Importantly, it also means recognising when a patient’s concern may stem more from digital comparison than clinical need.
The influence of AI and filters is not inherently negative. They have raised awareness about aesthetics and self-care. However, they have also set unattainable baselines, where even perfectly natural features begin to feel inadequate.
As clinicians, our role is not to reject these conversations but to reframe them responsibly. Instead of replicating filtered faces, we guide patients toward outcomes that are:
- Subtle
- Individualised
- Biologically compatible
- Able to age naturally over time
Aesthetic medicine is at its best when it enhances but does not replace someone’s identity.
Looksmaxxing, in a properly balanced sense, can still represent self-improvement and confidence. But when it shifts toward extremes, the responsibility lies with medical professionals to provide clarity, perspective, medical insight and ethical boundaries.
Because in the end, the goal is not to look digitally perfect but to look real, confident, and comfortable in your own skin.
(The author is the Medical Director & Business Head of The Éterne Clinic, Powai, Mumbai)
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.