چکیده (انگلیسی):

Nowadays, with the help of cosmetic surgery almost every woman and man can achieve a highly attractive appearance. But many people do not take advantage of these opportunities. Task: This pilot-study investigates individual attitudes of people towards aesthetic plastic surgery and analyzes factors which may play a role in the development of a decision for or against aesthetic surgery. This study emphasizes different aspects of people, who are unsatisfied with their body appearance, to decide for or against a cosmetic surgery. Especially individual fears of complications or pain and possible negative consequences were investigated. Furthermore, the influence of the personal trait extraversion/introversion and the educational level of the participants were analyzed. In addition, this survey evaluated gender-specific differences towards plastic surgery and research differences with regard to costs of a “beauty surgery”. Methods: A questionnaire was developed which combined self-developed items for a measurement of attitudes towards plastic surgery. In addition, items of the “Freiburger Personality Inventory” (FPI-R) were used. The study was conducted in Hamburg/Germany. 104 test persons participated in the survey (81 females, 23 males, age 20 – 30 y.). 86 of the participants (82.7%) had an A-level as degree of education, 14.4% achieved the secondary school certificate and 2.9% had completed their bachelor on a high school. Results: The data supported the hypothesis that people who are unsatisfied with their body appearance showed more willingness for a surgical intervention. On the other hand fear of complications and pain as far as anxiety before an unsatisfactory result hinders them from a decision for an intervention. Significant correlations with regard to extraversion-introversion and the education level were not found. Females showed more willingness regarding an intervention than men. Gender-specific differences concerning the cost factor were not found. Conclusion: Interestingly, more than 65% of the total sample (n=104) felt a dissatisfaction with a specific body part and are thus target of aesthetic surgery. The yellow press often reports about failed cosmetic surgery, especially in VIP-persons. Aesthetic surgery should keep working to reduce unwarranted fears of people toward these kinds of operations.