Evaluation of social appearance anxiety in patients seeking rhinoplasty

Abstract Introduction Rhinoplasty constitutes a substantial proportion of aesthetic surgical procedures. The visibility of the face in social interaction may explain the higher preference for nasal surgery in cosmetic interventions. Patients’ concerns about social appearance and self-esteem may be associated with the desire for aesthetic procedures. Low self-liking and lack of self-confidence may motivate individuals to seek cosmetic surgery. This study aimed to investigate differences in social appearance anxiety and self-esteem between individuals seeking rhinoplasty and those without aesthetic motivation. Methods The study included a total of 120 participants: 70 patients who applied for rhinoplasty to the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic of … Hospital and voluntarily agreed to participate, and 50 healthy volunteers as the control group. Participants were evaluated using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS). Scores were recorded and statistically compared between the two groups. Results The mean age of the patients (18–42 years) was 22.3 years, while the mean age in the control group was 24.2 years. Of the rhinoplasty group, 72.8% ( n = 51) were female and 27.2% ( n = 19) were male; in the control group, 76% ( n = 38) were female and 24% ( n = 12) were male. The patient and control groups were similar in terms of age and sex distribution. There was no statistically significant relationship between age, sex, and RSES or SAAS scores ( p > 0.05). Comparison of RSES scores revealed no statistically significant difference between the groups ( p > 0.05). However, SAAS scores were significantly higher in the rhinoplasty group compared to the control group ( p < 0.05). Conclusion Our findings suggest that higher levels of social appearance anxiety may be associated with the desire for rhinoplasty in individuals seeking aesthetic nasal surgery.