A multitude of factors might motivate patients to request cosmetic surgery, such as psychosocial factors (Nerini et al. 2014), social relationships (Tam et al. 2012), body image (Sarwer et al. 2005), a history of being teased about their appearance (von Soest et al. 2006), and self-esteem (Haas et al. 2008). Media exposure, fashion trends, and beauty magazines correlate with positive attitudes toward cosmetic surgery (Placik and Arkins 2014; Sharp et al. 2014). Our study found that age, sex, marital status, occupational status, educational level, and previous childbirth were significantly associated with the leading three cosmetic surgeries (eye surgery, Botox injection, and nevus removal).
In the United States, the patient group aged 35–50 years requested the most surgical procedures, representing 40 %, whereas patients aged 19–34 years underwent 28 % of all surgical procedures (Broer et al. 2014). In the present study, we found that patients aged 19–34 years underwent the largest share of all cosmetic surgeries, accounting for 76.9 %, indicating a preference for cosmetic surgeries in China among the younger population. One contributing factor may be the popularity of Korean television series in China among the younger Chinese. It is the case that many Korean television stars have undergone cosmetic surgery, leading to a breakdown of previously held stereotypes and an increase in the number of people considering elective cosmetic surgery. Historically, older patients were more likely undergo face lifts to obtain a youthful, natural look (Paul 2011). In our study only 89 patients aged 51 and older underwent cosmetic surgery in the previous 4 years, suggesting that older people in China are much less interested than Americans in cosmetic surgery. Chinese people are bound by a long history of conservatism and traditional beliefs, and may therefore have a relatively negative attitude toward cosmetic surgery.
British females were reported to have a greater likelihood of undergoing cosmetic surgery (Furnham and Levitas 2012). In South Korea, women were more accepting of cosmetic surgery in comparison with male counterparts (Swami et al. 2012). Our results, likewise, show that in China, as in other countries worldwide, women make up the vast majority of cosmetic surgery patients.
The married population has been reported to be just as eager as the unmarried to undergo cosmetic surgery to gain support of family, friends, and partners, and to better their social positions and values, besides making their appearance more attractive to others (Salehahmadi and Rafie 2012). Marital status was reported to be statistically significantly related with Dermatology Life Quality Index scores in vitiligo patients (Dolatshahi et al. 2008). The present study highlighted that marital status was statistically significantly associated with eye surgery, Botox injection, and nevus removal, with a greater tendency toward nevus removal.
A previous study proposed that occupation was a risk factor for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (Bilhartz and Bilhartz 2013). In the present study, patients employed in the service industries were inclined to undergo Botox injection, perhaps in the belief that improvement in appearance might increase their chances of becoming successful in their career.
Generally speaking, most cosmetic surgery respondents have been educated to undergraduate level (Salehahmadi and Rafie 2012). Our study shows that patients with a higher education level are more likely to undergo eye surgery and Botox injection. We may thus conclude that college students are more aware of the benefits of cosmetic surgery in correcting certain malformations in the face and body and in helping the individual to function better and more comfortably.
In conclusion, the present study offers new insights into demographic factors that affect individuals’ inclination to undergo cosmetic surgery. Plastic surgeons should pay attention to the instructive attributes of predictive factors for cosmetic surgery patients. Even a small cosmetic alteration might be sufficient to give an individual an emotional boost.