Rhea Chakraborty, currently appearing in The Traitors season 2, opened up about her early days in showbiz, recalling how she became financially independent at a young age and spent a significant portion of her earnings on cosmetic procedures to improve her appearance.During a conversation with comedian Tanmay Bhat on his YouTube channel, the Jalebi actor revealed that she was earning around Rs 3 lakh as an MTV VJ when she was just 17 or 18 years old. Looking back, Rhea admitted she felt extremely wealthy at the time and chose to spend her money on altering her appearance.“At that time, a VJ used to get good money. I think Rs 3 lakh was my last salary. But I was also just 17-18 years old, so I really thought I was damn rich. Spent this money on fixing my face,” Rhea said.DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.Further, she spoke about the pressures she faced when she was starting in the industry and how appearance played an intrinsic role.“There was a time when only good-looking people were allowed to speak,” she said.Later in the conversation, Tanmay jokingly asked Rhea if he should also get his face “fixed”. Responding to him, she said, “Everyone should get their facelift. Technology is next level now. There is everything…”Story continues below this adIncrease in cosmetic consultations among young adultsAccording to Dr Sunil Kumar Prabhu, Consultant Dermatologist and Aesthetic Physician at Aster RV Hospital, Bengaluru, the number of teenagers and young adults seeking cosmetic consultations has risen in recent years, with social media, beauty filters, and changing beauty standards influencing how young people see themselves.“In recent years the number of teenagers and young adults asking for cosmetic consultations has jumped quite a bit,” Dr Prabhu said. He noted that while many young people approach dermatologists for genuine concerns such as acne, acne scars, pigmentation, and birthmarks, requests for aesthetic procedures have also risen.“There’s a noticeable uptick in interest for aesthetic work, mostly influenced by social media, beauty filters, and the constant exposure to ‘perfect’ facial features,” Dr Sunil said.He also stressed that young adults in their early 20s are increasingly exploring cosmetic enhancements, while procedures among teenagers are generally considered only when there is a strong medical or psychological reason.Story continues below this adHe said the first consultation should not be about immediately recommending a procedure. “The first consultation shouldn’t just rush into options. It should be about getting a feel for what the patient imagines, how emotionally mature they are, and whether a procedure is actually necessary,” he said.Acne, pigmentation among common concernsAcne and its aftermath remain some of the most common reasons young people seek dermatological care. Acne scars, post-inflammatory pigmentation, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores and oily skin are among the concerns frequently reported by younger patients.“Young people pretty often end up asking for treatment for acne, plus those longer-term results that can come with it, like acne scars and post-inflammatory pigmentation,” Dr Prabhu said.However, cosmetic requests are also becoming more prominent. These include facial contouring, lip enhancement, jawline definition, non-surgical nose reshaping and skin-tightening treatments.Story continues below this adAlso Read | ‘They said things like some buffalo plasty or something’: Janhvi Kapoor addresses cosmetic procedures, says Sridevi guided her; the pressure of beauty standards“Lately, cosmetic consultations seem to include requests for things like facial contouring, lip enhancement, jawline definition, nose reshaping without surgery, and some level of skin tightening,” he said, adding that social media trends and celebrity appearances can make such procedures appear increasingly normal.Dr Prabhu advised young people to focus on basic skin health before considering cosmetic intervention. “Dermatologists usually suggest starting with the root skin health stuff first, meaning the right skincare, solid sun protection, and treatments that actually have evidence, before jumping into cosmetic procedures,” he said.Why early cosmetic procedures can be riskyDr Prabhu cautioned that undergoing cosmetic procedures too early can have both physical and psychological consequences. “Face structures actually keep maturing into the late teenage years, and also into early adulthood, so if someone does treatment too early, it might not give results that last, or they might not even fit the face properly later on,” he said.Procedures can also carry risks including infection, scarring, asymmetry, allergic reactions and dissatisfaction with the results. In some cases, patients may eventually require corrective procedures.Story continues below this ad“Unnecessary procedures can open the door to problems like infection, scarring, a lopsided look, allergic reactions, or cosmetic results that turn out disappointing and may need fixing later,” Dr Prabhu said.He also stressed that repeated cosmetic interventions could potentially alter the natural balance of facial proportions over time.DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.