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The impact of social media and other internet sources on cosmetic interventions among females in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional observational study

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Abstract

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.

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Funding

This research is supported by Taif University Researchers Supporting Project Number (TURSP-2020/11), Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia. The sponsors did not have any role in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the article for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Medicine, Taif University, 21944, Al-Taif, Saudi Arabia

    Hussam Y. Alghamdi, Abdulaziz M. Alrashed, Sultan M. Alzahrani & Khalid M. Alzahrani

Authors
  1. Hussam Y. Alghamdi
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  2. Abdulaziz M. Alrashed
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  3. Sultan M. Alzahrani
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  4. Khalid M. Alzahrani
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hussam Y. Alghamdi.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies of human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Ethical standard

The study was reviewed and approved by Taif University Ethical Committee with approval No. 44-319/2023.

Consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Consent to publish

No data that were person identifiable was published. All participants were informed about publication and did not object.

Informed consent

In this type of study, informed consent is not required.

Conflict of interest

Hussam Y. Alghamdi, Abdulaziz M. Alrashed, Sultan M. Alzahrani, and Khalid M. Alzahrani declare no competing interests.

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Alghamdi, H.Y., Alrashed, A.M., Alzahrani, S.M. et al. The impact of social media and other internet sources on cosmetic interventions among females in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional observational study. Eur J Plast Surg 46, 1397–1407 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-023-02118-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-023-02118-5

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