As Botox and facial fillers become more common, they can have unexpected consequences for your holiday. Even small cosmetic enhancements can confuse airport facial recognition technology, potentially leading to flight delays or cancellations.
Maariv writes about this.
Although Botox and fillers are becoming more common both in Israel and around the world, many travelers are unaware of the impact these procedures can have on their future vacations.
About a year ago, TikTok user Joan Prophet described how she was detained in an interrogation room at a Turkish airport by six security officers after her passport photo no longer matched her current appearance. Since the photo was taken, she has had dental veneers, chin and lip fillers, and fat-absorbing injections.
Although her passport did not expire for another year, Joan had to pay for a new one. Her admission prompted a wave of responses, mostly from women reporting similar experiences at airports around the world. While many pointed to problems specifically at Turkish airports, others reported similar issues in places like Cape Verde and Singapore.
Travel experts are already warning of the problems that Botox could cause when using facial recognition technology. Following recent incidents, they are advising followers of beauty trends, especially those planning trips, to be careful. As biometric technologies and facial recognition are increasingly used in passport control, significant facial changes can raise doubts about a person’s identity.
Facial recognition problems at airports have become common and can lead to flight delays and even cancellations, according to travel company Travel Republic. “Airport computers rely on things like pupil distance, ear distance, nose distance, mouth distance and eye width,” explains the travel and biometric photography expert at Passport-Photo Online.
When should you update your passport photo?
Minor changes, such as a new haircut, growing a beard, or slight weight fluctuations, don’t typically require a new passport photo. However, if you’ve had facial reconstruction or cosmetic procedures that have changed your key facial features, experts recommend updating your passport photo. If you’ve recently had surgery or fillers that altered your face and need to fly, it’s a good idea to bring a doctor’s note explaining the procedure and why you may look different than your passport photo.
Cursor previously wrote that the tourist had found an unusual way to visit all corners of the world.
