Survey Uncovers Motivating Factors for Plastic Surgery

In Norwegian women, specific factors –both physical and psychological –can predict an interest in cosmetic procedures, according to a study in the current issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Over 1800 women in northern Norway responded to a questionnaire about interest in cosmetic surgery. All participants were under the age of 35. The study analyzed their responses to determine what influenced their interest in specific procedures.

Psychological factors

Women interested in rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, and liposuction were motivated by “complex psychological factors.” Researchers found correlations with lifestyle factors such as divorce, history of teasing, education, self-image, body dysmorphic disorder, and the so-called Big-Five personality traits.

Physical Factors

Questions about abdominoplasty (the tummy tuck) presented some unique findings. Most participants who were interested in the procedure were interested in it exclusively. Having children and the “desire to repair the bodily changes occurring after childbirth” was a consistent predictor of interest for a tummy tuck.

Read an abstract of this study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

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