Published in:
16-09-2023 | Original Paper
The impact of social media and other internet sources on cosmetic interventions among females in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional observational study
Published in: European Journal of Plastic Surgery | Issue 6/2023
Login to get accessAbstract
Background
Cosmetic surgery may help in improving physical appearance and increasing self-esteem. Mass media may contribute to women’s preference for cosmetic interventions. The study aimed to assess the social media influence impact on the performing of cosmetic interventions and to evaluate the acceptance level of those interventions among females in Saudi Arabia who rely on the internet as an information source.
Methods
The study was a cross-sectional study conducted from December 2022 to January 2023 among females living in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Participants’ acceptance of cosmetic interventions was evaluated using an Arabic version of the validated Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale (ACSS).
Results
The study included 1790 females. Most individuals were single (73.9%), and 59.6% fell into the 18–25 age group. About 14.2% of respondents used Snapchat to get information about cosmetic surgery. Younger females (< 25 years) used TikTok (9.8% vs. 3.6%) and Twitter (13.7% vs. 10%) to gain knowledge about cosmetic interventions (P-value < 0.001). The mean score of the overall acceptance of cosmetic surgery was 42.87. Snapchat platforms significantly increased the acceptability of cosmetic interventions (P-value = 0.032).
Conclusions
The present study highlighted the significance of social media’s impact on the level of acceptance of cosmetic surgery among participated females. Further investigations are recommended to assess the effects of internet sources, especially social media, on the general population’s acceptance level and the rate of performing cosmetic surgery.
Level of Evidence: Not gradable.