Body Image and the Decision to Get Surgery

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A recent study released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons shows the level of an individual's body satisfaction has little to do with their decision to get plastic surgery.

Study Conducted

The study, which analyzed 52,000 men and women of various ages, looked at two main factors: how attractive they felt and their overall level of comfort in a bathing suit.

“This study shows that the majority of people who want plastic surgery have a normal level of body satisfaction,” explained Dr. Richard D'Amico, ASPS president-elect. “We use the term ‘look as good as you feel' often and it's good to know this is why the average plastic surgery patient has a cosmetic procedure.”

The Surprising Results

Results from the study showed that overall body satisfaction in people interested in getting cosmetic surgery didn't differ much from those who were not interested in going under the knife.

People having a higher body mass index and those who felt that they were too heavy and wanted liposuction were more likely to display lower self-esteem than other patients.

The study also revealed that 48 percent of women polled were interested in having cosmetic plastic surgery, while 23 percent said they were possibly interested.

23 percent of men said they were interested in cosmetic plastic surgery while 17 percent were possibly interested.

According to David Frederick, the study's co-author, people who are interested in most forms of plastic surgery did not differ significantly from the general population in terms of their overall body image.

However, the study did find that Americans as a whole tend to be more concerned about being slender than about the size of their nose or breasts.

(Source: Fox News)

Have you or someone you know been considering getting plastic surgery? Please contact us today to speak with a board certified plastic surgeon who can better inform you about your surgical options.


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