Research by Allure Magazine for “The Allure of Beauty Study� looked at modern attitudes about beauty, confident and success, and what it revealed surprised many. Conducted by StrategyOne, the market research company surveyed more than 1,700 American men and women. What the study found was that the ideal of beauty is no longer perceived as untouchable perfection and that enhancement boosts women’s confidence and not their insecurity.
No longer a foreign and unattainable concept, the word beauty included a lifestyle that reflects a greater focus on long-term care of the hair, face and body, preventative therapies and aesthetic enhancement. According to Kline & Company’s 2004 statistics, beauty has grown into a $32.2 billion industry.
With the high number of plastic surgery procedures offered, the study found that most women desire a tummy tuck or liposuction. Of the women surveyed, 22 percent have given consideration to a tummy tuck, though not one of the women interviewed actually had the procedure. Saying women over 50 are just as beautiful as those under 30, the survey also found 91 percent of women are happy with their looks. This indicates the concept of beauty has become greater – not limited to narrow ideals.
Surprising to both men and women, the study found that 31 percent of the men surveyed believe eyes are the best feature, and just 13 percent put breasts at the top of their list. In addition, less than half of the men surveyed would prefer to have a “beautiful� woman on his arm than a “nice� woman. Widespread exposure to plastic surgery has led to some concern that men would become accustomed to overly embracing the latest cosmetic trends, but the study found this was a misconception.
In the survey, 66 percent of men answered that they prefer their romantic partners do not consider plastic surgery. In addition, 42 percent of men surveyed said they had no desire to know if their romantic partner has received a cosmetic related procedure, including Botox, waxing or fingernail and hair extensions.
The study shows that despite the high focus on beauty, today’s consumer is confident, smarter and savvier than before. Not all individuals are ideal candidates for plastic surgery, but a reputable and experienced plastic surgeon will be able to identify if cosmetic procedures can benefit the patient.