ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The popular demand for cosmetic surgery is increasing explosively, but little is known about how perceptions of cosmetic surgery among women are related to demographics or psychological factors. A survey was conducted to compare changes in perception about cosmetic surgery among professional women in 2010 and 2014. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey was performed at a general hospital by female nurses in 2010 and 2014. Participants included 350 women in 2010 and 470 women in 2014; 323 individuals in 2010 and 449 individuals in 2014 completed the survey (overall response rates of 92.3% and 95.5%, respectively). Participants identified their demographic data, which included age, educational level, marital status, monthly income, and previous experience with cosmetic surgery. The survey included standardized measures for appearance interest, body image satisfaction, self-esteem, and perceptions toward cosmetic surgery (delineated in terms of actual considerations). RESULTS: Compared to 2010, actual considerations for cosmetic surgery were higher in 2014, specifically for women in their 20s, a monthly income between 2 to 3 million won, and those with high scores of self-esteem, appearance interest, and body image satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, in order for professional women to undergo appropriate cosmetic surgery and be satisfied with the results, it is necessary to obtain a deeper understanding about the factors that influence the perceptions of cosmetic surgery.