Cosmetic Procedures in Saudi Arabia: Correlation with Perfectionism and Self-esteem among the General Population

Background: The pursuit of physical attractiveness and self-enhancement has witnessed a growing trend globally, with cosmetic procedures gaining popularity. Purpose: The present study focuses on understanding the prevalence of seeking cosmetic procedures in the Saudi Arabian population and its association with perfectionism and self-esteem. It determines the other related factors of cosmetic procedure-seeking behavior. Methods: An online-based questionnaire was distributed to the Saudi Arabian general population, including four sections: sociodemographic information, assessment of cosmetic procedure-seeking behavior, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Physical Appearance Perfectionism Scale. Results: The study included 1978 participants with an average age of 27.9 years. Most of the participants were young, female, single, and well-educated. Of these, 17.7% of the participants reported having undergone cosmetic procedures, with a preference for nonsurgical interventions (58%). Over three-quarters of these individuals were satisfied with their cosmetic procedures. The most influential factors behind seeking cosmetic procedures were psychological/internal factors. Lip-related procedures were the most common (26%). Cosmetic procedure-seeking behavior was correlated with physical appearance perfectionism ( P = 0.017), but not with self-esteem ( P = 0.362). Conclusion: The prevalence of cosmetic procedures in Saudi Arabia is increasing among young, well-educated individuals. Psychological factors were the primary motivators, and perfectionism significantly drove them to seek procedures. Healthcare providers must consider these psychological aspects when dealing with patients seeking cosmetic procedures.