Psychological profile in women undergoing minimally invasive cosmetic procedures: A pilot–survey-based–retrospective study

Debate about the psychological background and the impact on self-perception and social integration of cosmetic surgery and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures (MICPs), such as botulinum toxin (BoNT) and facial filler injections is still ongoing. The aim of the present study was to assess the psychological background and the impact on self-perception and social integration of cosmetic surgery and MICPs. By means of a survey procedure, a thorough battery of validated questionnaires (VQs) investigating sociodemographic backgrounds and changes in body perception (brown obsessive-compulsive scale modified for body dysmorphic disorder; body appreciation scale (BAS-2); and multidimensional body self relations questionnaire-body area satisfaction scale), anxiety and depression (depression anxiety stress scales, personality traits (rosenberg self-esteem scale [RSE]), social interaction (social interaction anxiety scale), quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life) and eating attitude (Eating Attitude Test) was administered in a cohort of women routinely undergoing MICPs (n = 37) and in a matched group of women who never underwent such procedures (n = 29), serving as control group (CG). When compared to CG, MICPs participants demonstrated significant (P < .05) lower social interaction anxiety scale (SIAS-6) scores (95% confidence Interval [CI]: 6.4-7.5 vs 7.47-8.94; Cohen d = 0.65) and higher scores along the RSE (95% CI: 32.99-35.6 vs 28.22-32.66; Cohen d = -0.74) and BAS-2 (95% CI: 38.72-42.73 vs 32.36-38.88; Cohen d = -0.66). MICPs participants demonstrated significant positive correlations between age and number of total sessions (R = 0.44; 95% CI = 0.02-0.09) in the last 2 years which further negatively (r = -0.45; 95% CI = -0.5 to -0.04) and positively (R = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.07-0.18) correlated with SIAS-6 and BAS-2, respectively. The present study highlighted that women undergoing aesthetic medicine treatments are burdened by less interpersonal problems and demonstrate greater self-esteem and better own body perception. However, the absence of pre/post intervention data limits the understanding of whether observed psychological differences are a consequence of MICPs or factors influencing their adoption.