Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Psychological and Personality Characteristics of Applicants for Facial Cosmetic Surgery

  • Original Article
  • Face and Neck Surgery
  • Published:
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological and personality characteristics of the applicants for facial cosmetic surgery.

Methods

This descriptive–analytical study was conducted on 385 facial cosmetic surgery applicants who referred to medical centers in Ahvaz (south Iran). The data collection tool included three questionnaires: (1) demographic questions, (2) the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and (3) the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI).

Results

The results showed that 45.2% of the participants had abnormal health status. The mean score of the participants on the openness subscale was insignificantly lower than that of the general population (p > 0.05). On the other hand, the mean scores of the participants on the conscientiousness and agreeableness subscales were significantly lower (p < 0.001). Finally, the mean score of the samples on the extroversion subscale was significantly higher than that of the general population (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Given the results of the study, it is strongly recommended to address the personality and psychological characteristics of the applicants for cosmetic surgery before operating on them.

Level of Evidence V

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Breuning E et al (2010) Cosmetic surgery in the NHS: applying local and national guidelines. J Plastic Reconstr Aesthetic Surg 63(9):1437–1442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Morowatisharifabad MA et al (2014) The study of self-reported problems and complications of Rhinoplasty in Yazd City. J Jiroft Univ Med Sci 1(1):68–76

    Google Scholar 

  3. Surgery, A.S.f.A.P. Statistic, 2000 to 2010. 2011. https://www.surgery.org/media/statistic

  4. Pavan C et al (2008) Psychopathologic aspects of body dysmorphic disorder: a literature review. Aesthetic Plast Surg 32(3):473–484

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Babadi H et al (2018) Investigating psychosocial causes of the tendency for facial cosmetic surgery. Aesthetic Plast Surg 42(4):1157–1163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Papadopulos N et al (2007) Quality of life following aesthetic plastic surgery: a prospective study. J Plastic Reconstr Aesthetic Surg 60(8):915–921

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Khanjani Z, Babapour J, Saba G (2012) Investigating mental status and body image in cosmetic surgery applicants in comparison with non-applicants. J Shahid Sadoughi Univ Med Sci 20(2):237–248

    Google Scholar 

  8. Klepp IG (2009) Does beauty come from within. Beauty and well-being in Norwegian spas. Med Antropol 21(1):39–51

    Google Scholar 

  9. Roshan R (2005) Examine the psychometric properties of NEO Five-Factor Personality Inventory. Daneshvar J 13:16

    Google Scholar 

  10. Pecorari G et al (2010) Self-esteem and personality in subjects with and without body dysmorphic disorder traits undergoing cosmetic rhinoplasty: preliminary data. J Plastic Reconstr Aesthetic Surg 63(3):493–498

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Molina J et al (2006) The factor structure of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ): a scaled version for general practice in Spain. Eur Psychiatry 21(7):478–486

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Nazifi M et al (2013) Reliability, validity and factor structure of Persian translation of the General Health Questionnaire 28 questions in hospitals affiliated with the University of Medical Sciences Kerman. Fasa Univ Med Sci J 3(4):336–342

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ebrahiami A et al (2008) Psychometric properties and factor structure of clinical cut-off point, sensitivity and specificity of 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) in Iranian patients with psychiatric disorders. Behav Sci Res 5(1):5–12

    Google Scholar 

  14. Costa PT, McCrae RR (1986) Cross-sectional studies of personality in a national sample: I. Development and validation of survey measures. Psychol Aging 1(2):140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Garusi Farshi MT 2000 New approach in personality assessment (application of factor analysis in the study of character). In: Edition F (ed) Publication of Daniel and the research community, Tabriz

  16. Zojaji R et al (2014) Personality characteristics of patients seeking cosmetic rhinoplasty. Aesthetic Plast Surg 38(6):1090–1093

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Zahiroddin AR, Shafiee-Kandjani AR, Khalighi-Sigaroodi E (2008) Do mental health and self-concept associate with rhinoplasty requests? J Plastic Reconstr Aesthetic Surg 61(9):1100–1103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Azizzadeh B, Mashkevich G (2009) Nerve injuries and treatment in facial cosmetic surgery. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am 21(1):23–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Masoudzadeh A, Yousefi M, Tirgari A (2010) Personality patterns and general health status of applicants compared Rhinoplasty controls. J Med 82:85–94

    Google Scholar 

  20. Swami V, Mammadova A (2012) Associations between consideration of cosmetic surgery, perfectionism dimensions, appearance schemas, relationship satisfaction, excessive reassurance-seeking, and love styles. Individ Differ Res 10(2):81–94

    Google Scholar 

  21. Alamdar Saravy M, Ghalehbandi M (2004) Personality Traits of Candidate for Esthetic Surgery. IJPCP 9(4):11–17

    Google Scholar 

  22. Gazize S, Gharadaghi A (2013) Comparing pathological symptoms of mental disorder, personality disorder of clusters B and C, and body image in cosmetic surgery applicants with those in non-applicants. Asian J Med Pharm Res 3(4):139–147

    Google Scholar 

  23. Mohammadpanah A, Yaghoobi H, Yusefi R (2012) Personality traits and defense mechanisms in patients seeking for cosmetic surgery. JDC 3(2):72–82

    Google Scholar 

  24. Ghalehbandi M, Afkham Ebrahimi A (2004) Personality patterns in cosmetic rhinoplasty patients. IJPCP 9(4):4–10 (in Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Williams D et al (2009) Psychological characteristics of women who require orthognathic surgery: comparison with untreated controls. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 47(3):191–195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Guthrie A et al (2017) A review of complications and their treatments in facial aesthetic surgery. Am J Cosmet Surg 34(2):73–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Sadrosadatzadeh M et al (2013) Qualification of self-esteem and body image before and after cosmetic surgery on girls. Res Psychol Health 7(1):40–48

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

    Bahman Cheraghian, Hadis Babadi & Bahman Dashtbozorgi

  2. Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Malek Fereidooni-Moghadam

Authors
  1. Bahman Cheraghian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Malek Fereidooni-Moghadam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hadis Babadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bahman Dashtbozorgi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Malek Fereidooni-Moghadam.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Ethical Approval

This work was a part of MSc thesis of Hadis Babadi and was financially supported by the Vice-Chancellor for Research Affairs of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. The Ethics Committee of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences approved the study protocol (SDH-9424).

Informed Consent

All participants provided informed consent.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cheraghian, B., Fereidooni-Moghadam, M., Babadi, H. et al. Psychological and Personality Characteristics of Applicants for Facial Cosmetic Surgery. Aesth Plast Surg 44, 780–787 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-020-01682-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-020-01682-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation