Nationwide Study: Public Adults’ Perception of Cosmetic Surgery in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Knowing what influences people to pursue cosmetic surgery can aid current and aspiring cosmetic surgeons as they develop their techniques and enhance their market practice. This study aimed to evaluate Saudi adults’ perceptions of cosmetic surgery using the three subscales of the Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale, namely Social, Consider, and Intrapersonal. Methods: This cross-sectional, nationwide study involved members of the public from all provinces of Saudi Arabia. The inclusion criteria were being a Saudi resident over 18 years old and consenting to participate; those who did not meet the criteria were excluded. The study was implemented between October 25 and December 16, 2022. The electronic survey was composed of a demographic characteristics section and a previously constructed questionnaire modified for Arabic speakers to assess the population’s perceptions of cosmetic surgery. Statistical analysis was conducted using the SPSS 22 statistical package. Results: Of the 8006 Saudi adults who participated in the study, 5551 (69.3%) were women, and 2245 (30.7%) were men. We found that intrapersonal factors were the primary motivator, followed by factors addressed by the Consider and Social subscales. However, attitudes differed by gender, age, and other demographic characteristics: men and younger individuals (18–29) showed the lowest score for likelihood to pursue cosmetic surgery, whereas women and older individuals (40–50) ranked the highest on total scale scores. Overall, the Saudi adult population showed diminished perceptions of cosmetic surgery nationwide. Conclusion: The results confirmed the authors’ hypothesis that there is a diminished perception of cosmetic surgery among adults in Saudi Arabia.