Self-reported Patient Motivations for Seeking Cosmetic Procedures

Abstract

<div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="ab-doi180037-1"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d6943938e1022">Question</h5> <p id="d6943938e1024">What motivates patients to consider and obtain cosmetic procedures?</p> </div><div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="ab-doi180037-2"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d6943938e1027">Findings</h5> <p id="d6943938e1029">This prospective multicenter observational study of 511 patients seeking cosmetic surgical procedures found that, apart from desiring to look better physically, patients want to protect their health (261 [53.0%]), improve their sense of psychological well-being (328 [69.3%]), and increase their comfort and confidence in social situations (269 [56.6%]). In general, patients sought cosmetic procedures to meet their needs, not those of others around them. </p> </div><div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="ab-doi180037-3"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d6943938e1032">Meaning</h5> <p id="d6943938e1034">Patients’ many motivations for cosmetic procedures include psychological and social goals as well as the desire to appear attractive. </p> </div><p class="first" id="d6943938e1037">This multicenter observational study assesses the importance of self-reported factors that motivate patients to undergo minimally invasive cosmetic surgical procedures. </p><div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="ab-doi180037-4"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d6943938e1041">Importance</h5> <p id="d6943938e1043">Despite the growing popularity of cosmetic procedures, the sociocultural and quality-of-life factors that motivate patients to undergo such procedures are not well understood. </p> </div><div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="ab-doi180037-5"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d6943938e1046">Objective</h5> <p id="d6943938e1048">To estimate the relative importance of factors that motivate patients to seek minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. </p> </div><div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="ab-doi180037-6"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d6943938e1051">Design, Setting, and Participants</h5> <p id="d6943938e1053">This prospective, multicenter observational study was performed at 2 academic and 11 private dermatology practice sites that represented all US geographic regions. Adult patients presenting for cosmetic consultation or treatment from December 4, 2016, through August 9, 2017, were eligible for participation. </p> </div><div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="ab-doi180037-7"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d6943938e1056">Exposures</h5> <p id="d6943938e1058">Participants completed a survey instrument based on a recently developed subjective framework of motivations and a demographic questionnaire. </p> </div><div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="ab-doi180037-8"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d6943938e1061">Main Outcomes and Measures</h5> <p id="d6943938e1063">Primary outcomes were the self-reported most common motivations in each quality-of-life category. Secondary outcomes were other frequently reported motivations and those associated with specific procedures. </p> </div><div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="ab-doi180037-9"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d6943938e1066">Results</h5> <p id="d6943938e1068">Of 529 eligible patients, 511 agreed to participate, were enrolled, and completed the survey. Typical respondents were female (440 [86.1%]), 45 years or older (286 [56.0%]), white (386 [75.5%]), and college educated (469 [91.8%]) and had previously received at least 2 cosmetic procedures (270 [52.8%]). Apart from motivations pertaining to aesthetic appearance, including the desire for beautiful skin and a youthful, attractive appearance, motives related to physical health, such as preventing worsening of condition or symptoms (253 of 475 [53.3%]), and psychosocial well-being, such as the desire to feel happier and more confident or improve total quality of life (314 of 467 [67.2%]), treat oneself or celebrate (284 of 463 [61.3%]), and look good professionally (261 of 476 [54.8%]) were commonly reported. Motivations related to cost and convenience were rated as less important (68 of 483 [14.1%]). Most motivations were internally generated, designed to please the patients and not others, with patients making the decision to undergo cosmetic procedures themselves and spouses seldom being influential. Patients younger than 45 years were more likely to undertake procedures to prevent aging (54 of 212 [25.5%] vs 42 of 286 [14.7%] among patients ≥45 years; <i>P</i> &lt; .001). Patients seeking certain procedures, such as body contouring (19 of 22 [86.4%]), acne scar treatment (36 of 42 [85.7%]), and tattoo removal (8 of 11 [72.7%]), were more likely to report psychological and emotional motivations. </p> </div><div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="ab-doi180037-10"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d6943938e1074">Conclusions and Relevance</h5> <p id="d6943938e1076">This initial prospective, multicenter study comprehensively assessed why patients seek minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. Common reasons included emotional, psychological, and practical motivations in addition to the desire to enhance physical appearance. Differences relative to patient age and procedures sought may need further exploration. </p> </div>