Facial cosmetic surgery is popular among women of all age groups and ethnicity. Older women generally seek procedures to rejuvenate their looks by addressing the signs of aging. Young women and teenagers usually opt for procedures that will improve on their features, enhance facial harmony, and thereby enhance their confidence. In fact, a study recently published by JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery bears testimony to this – it suggests that young women in China who had eyelid surgery reported higher self-esteem and self-efficacy after the treatment.
The number of people in China taking up facial plastic surgery has increased noticeably over the past decade. This has led to more research on the psychosocial profile of these patients. This new study observed the association of women’s’ emotional traits, the decision to take up cosmetic surgery, and the efficiency of the treatment on their psychological conditions.
JAMA Study Highlights
The study’s participants included 161 cosmetic surgery patients (CSPs), 355 general population controls (GPCs) and 268 facial appearance raters (FARs). Data was collected before surgery and six months after surgery using questionnaires. FARs were shown front-view facial images of the patients. The findings are as follows:
- Self-esteem and self-efficacy scores were lower before surgery in young women compared to women in the general population who had not visited a plastic surgeon.
- The scores of young women who visited a plastic surgeon and had procedures rose to nearly normal levels six months after surgery.
- There was no notable difference in the objective assessment of facial appearance by the FARs for cosmetic surgery patients and the general group.
- The average scores for cosmetic surgery patients’ self-assessments were lower for the eyes, nose and overall facial appearance.
Though the authors concede that their study has limitations such as generalizability, they conclude, “Self-esteem and self-efficacy mediate the negative effects of self-assessment on the decision of young women to undergo facial cosmetic surgery. The impairment of self-esteem and self-efficacy may indicate the need for preoperative psychological intervention.”
A study published by JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery earlier this year suggested that besides improving appearance, facial rejuvenation procedures could enhance your self-esteem as well as the way other people perceive you. The study used pre and post-operative photographs of 30 women who had facial plastic surgery and found a significant improvement in the postoperative scores for likability, social skills, attractiveness and femininity.
Another study published by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) reported that the selfie trend has fuelled the demand for face-related plastic surgery. One in three plastic surgeons surveyed reported an increase in the number of people requesting alterations to their face “due to patients being more self-aware of looks in social media.”