Impact of Self-Esteem and Self-Perceived Body Image on the Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery

Abstract

BackboardCosmetic surgery is the preservation, rebuilding, or improvement of the physical appearance of an individual through surgical and non-surgical methods. In the last few years, an increase in the number of cosmetic procedures was noticed worldwide. This increase suggests due to multifactorial changes in people's attitudes towards cosmetic surgery and concern about their physical appearance. This study aims to assess the impact of self-esteem and self-perceived body image on the acceptance of cosmetic surgery and other related factors in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. Material and methodsThis was a cross-sectional study carried out in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted between May and August 2021. A self-administrated questionnaire was distributed to all the participants who are attending plastic surgery clinics and online through social media. Three valid and reliable scales were used [Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale (ACSS), Body Appreciation Scale (BAS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE)] to assess the relationship between these variables and other factors. The data were analyzed by using two-tailed tests. P-value less than 0.05 was statistically significant. Correlation analysis was done by using the Pearson correlation coefficient (r). ResultsA total of 1008 participants were included in the study with a response rate of 67%. Participant's ages ranged from 18 to 54 years with a mean age of 34.7 ± 11.2 years old. The study participants showed an average level of acceptance with a mean score % of 55.4% comparing to body appreciation; it was 74.2% higher with a more than average level of self-esteem, 24.7 out of 40 points for self-esteem with a mean score of 61.8%. Participants with a history of cosmetic surgery had significantly higher acceptance score than who did not (mean score of 72.6 compared to 57.1; P=0.001). Male participants had better body appreciation than females (mean score of 50.2 vs. 47.6, respectively; P=0.013). A weak positive correlation with no significance was found between participants' self-esteem and their acceptance of cosmetic surgery. ConclusionA better understanding of the acceptance of cosmetic surgery from a different cultural perspective and other related factors including social, psychological, and self-esteem are crucial for the plastic surgeon to ensure patient satisfaction.

Local Community View of Aesthetic Surgery: Results of a Cross-Sectional Survey

“…Our study's overall ACSS score was 52. [17]. This enormous disparity between our results can be attributed to the difference in the mean age of the research participants, as it was reported that acceptance of cosmetic interventions is remarkably higher in older age groups [15,18].…”

“…Morait et al reported a mean ACSS score of 60.11±25.11 among 389 adults in Riyadh, with a mean age of 29 years old [ 14 ]. Additionally, Al Ghadeer et al found a mean ACSS score of 58.2±20.5 among 1008 adults in the Eastern Province, with a mean age of 34 years old [ 17 ]. This enormous disparity between our results can be attributed to the difference in the mean age of the research participants, as it was reported that acceptance of cosmetic interventions is remarkably higher in older age groups [ 15 , 18 ].…”

Cosmetic Surgery and the Diversity of Cultural and Ethnic Perceptions of Facial, Breast, and Gluteal Aesthetics in Women: A Comprehensive Review

“…Interest in cosmetic surgery has been linked to a variety of epidemiological, social media, and psychological factors that could influence an individual’s motivation for cosmetic surgery. 67 , 68 The demand for cosmetic operations is increasing worldwide, particularly in East Asian countries and among ethnic minorities. 9 Women are likelier to undertake cosmetic surgery than men, 6 and lower self-ratings of physical beauty indicate a higher prevalence of cosmetic surgery being undertaken.…”

An Analysis of Aesthetic Concerns Identified by Video Conferencing

“…Among female participants 86%, and among male participants, 84% reported at least one disliked facial/body feature. Similarly, few recent studies published during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia found no significant association between gender and cosmetic procedure demand [ 25 , 26 ]. Thus, a noticeable aesthetic concern was found among male participants, which could be explained by the video conferencing impact on appearance satisfaction.…”