Knowledge and perceptions of facial plastic surgery among a selected group of professionals in Lagos, Nigeria

Medical aesthetic awareness among public in Malaysia and the factors that may influence it: A cross-sectional study

Introduction

Medical aesthetic practice is growing rapidly in Malaysia due to rising market demand, yet public understanding of these practices remains limited. This study evaluated the awareness and attitudes towards medical aesthetics among Malaysians.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among individuals aged > 18 years old in Malaysia from December 2021 to May 2022. The survey was distributed both online and in public settings. The survey comprised of respondents' sociodemographic, perception of physical attractiveness, knowledge and attitude towards medical aesthetic practices. The factors influencing respondents' attitudes towards medical aesthetic practices in the country were analysed using binary logistic regression, with the significance level set at P<0.05.

Results

A total of 382 respondents participated in this study with average age of 30.81 (±9.38) years, ranging from 18 to 68 years. The majority were women (77.5%), Malay (53.7%) and Muslim (57.1%). Although most respondents had no prior experience in medical aesthetic treatment (68.1%), 76.2% respondents demonstrated good knowledge and 70.2% had positive attitude towards these services. Additionally, 53.9% of the respondents highly valued the importance of physical attractiveness. The Buddhists and Hindus exhibited more positive attitude than the Muslims. Conversely, those who placed higher importance on physical attractiveness were 0.5 times less likely to develop a positive attitude towards medical aesthetic services.

Conclusion

In conclusion, despite limited experience in medical aesthetic treatments and practice, most Malaysians possess good knowledge and positive attitudes towards medical aesthetics, indicating a growing interest and potential willingness to consider these services for enhancing their appearance.

Demographic and Cultural Differences in the Acceptance and Pursuit of Cosmetic Surgery: A Systematic Literature Review

Worldwide, the numbers of cosmetic procedures continue to climb. However, cosmetic surgery (CS) continues to be plagued by negative stigmatization. This study reviews the literature to identify how attitudes toward CS vary by sex, age, race, culture, and nationality, and aims to determine how other factors like media exposure interact with demographics to influence how well CS is accepted.

METHODS

A PRISMA-guided systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify all English-language papers reporting on CS or plastic surgery acceptance, attitudes, or stigmatization, specifically examining for data on age, sex, race/ethnicity, culture, and media influence.

RESULTS

In total, 1515 abstracts were reviewed, of which 94 were deemed pertinent enough to warrant a full-text review. Among the potential demographic predictors of CS acceptance, the one with the most supportive data is sex, with women comprising roughly 90% of all CS patients in virtually all populations studied and consistently exhibiting greater CS knowledge and acceptance. Culturally, the pursuit of beauty through CS is a universal phenomenon, although different countries, races, and cultures differ in how willingly CS is embraced, and in the aesthetic goals of those choosing to have it. In countries with culturally diverse societies like the United States, non-Hispanic Whites continue to predominate among CS patients, but the number of CS patients of other races is rising disproportionately. In this trend, social media is playing a major role.

CONCLUSION

Healthcare practitioners performing cosmetic procedures need to consider demographic and cultural differences of the patients in order to enhance their understanding of their patients' aesthetic goals and expectations.

Knowledge and Attitude of Medical Students toward Plastic Surgery

Introduction Inadequate professional and medical exposure and misconceptions about plastic surgery have not only been linked to students’ poor knowledge and attitude toward it, but also bias against the selection of plastic surgery as a specialty. This assertion is yet to be tested and confirmed in our setting. This study therefore aimed to determine the knowledge and attitude of medical students toward plastic surgery.

Methods One hundred and eight (108) students between their 3rd and 4th year of study were randomly recruited and handed structured questionnaires on knowledge and attitude toward plastic surgery. Data were then analyzed using SPSS and represented in percentages, medians, and means. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests were done to assess for significant statistical differences based on gender grouping and year of study, respectively. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant at a 95% confidence interval.

Results Majority of the students had some awareness about plastic surgery since, a majority (88%) identified plastic surgery with cosmetics and identified trauma as the main condition handled by plastic surgeons. Sixty-four percent (64%) acknowledged the risks associated with plastic surgery and 79.6% noted the presence of the procedures in Kenya. When assessing attitude, 62% reported that they did not want to pursue plastic surgery in the future, 75% would not consider plastic surgery done on them and 77% of the respondents felt embarrassed to undergo the surgery if their family knew while another 77% felt embarrassed if their friends knew. It is worth noting that 55% had their initial exposure to plastic surgery through information from the media sources. Mann-Whitney test done to assess for gender differences only revealed significant difference (p-value = 0.009) on assessing for the availability of plastic surgery procedures in Kenya. Kruskal–Wallis test did not reveal any significant differences based on year of study.

Conclusion Data from our study suggest that students have some awareness about plastic surgery but have a poor attitude toward it.

Two multinational, observational surveys investigating perceptions of beauty and attitudes and experiences relating to aesthetic medical procedures

Background

Data on opinions and experiences of aesthetic medical procedures outside the United States and Western Europe are scarce.

Aims

This study aimed to survey users and non‐users of aesthetic procedures in countries where this information is less readily available, to understand attitudes and perceptions relating to beauty.

Patients/Methods

Two independent internet‐based observational surveys were conducted. Survey 1: individuals from Colombia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Russia and Turkey who were ‘users’ or ‘non‐users’ of aesthetic medical procedures. Survey 2: individuals from Colombia, Russia, Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates who were ‘users’ of non‐surgical aesthetic treatments.

Results

Surveys 1 and 2 were completed by 300 and 160 individuals, respectively, most of whom were female (94.0% and 99%). Overall, respondents rated the eyes and smile as the most pleasing male and female facial features. Most participants (mean 82.6%; range 75%‐100%) believed maintaining a healthy lifestyle was important for ageing gracefully, and over one‐third (36.0%; 28%‐47%) believed men age more gracefully than women. The emphasis respondents placed on the importance of physical attributes vs inner feelings, internal beauty and self‐confidence varied between countries. Users were often more positive about aesthetic medical procedure outcomes than non‐users. Adequate information, good physician communication (including managing treatment expectations), treatment recommendations based on patient need and good aftercare improved treatment satisfaction.

Conclusions

The eyes and smile were key features of attractiveness, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle was consistently considered an important factor for ageing gracefully. Ensuring patients are well informed was a major determinant of treatment satisfaction.

Perception and Knowledge of Facial Plastic Surgery Among Health Care Professionals at Tertiary Care Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Cross Sectional Study

Introduction:

Plastic surgery is a medical specialty involving the restoration, reconstruction, or alteration of the body. Knowledge about facial plastic surgery among doctors is limited according to some literatures and enriched according to others, depending on the country and study population.

Aim:

Aim of the study was to evaluate level of knowledge of health care professionals regarding facial plastic surgery.

Material and Methods:

A cross-sectional study included total of 261 health care professionals (consultants, specialists and residents in training) at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital (KAUH) from all subspecialties during July 2018. The data collected using pre-designed questionnaire and analyzed using professional statistics software.

Results:

Among 261 participants, sex distribution shows a male-female ratio of 2.78:1. The majority (62.8%) of participants were residents. Mean age (± SD) of participants was 32.28 ± 8.43. Pediatrics, internal medicine, and general surgery were the most common specialties. Among participants, 75.5% agreed that taking training in plastic surgery program is a requirement to be a facial plastic surgeon whether it should be accompanied with at least one other surgery training (23%) or more than one other training (22.2%). The majority (97.7%) have never undergone a facial plastic surgery operation and 78.2% were not willing to undergo one.

Conclusion:

The study concludes that the knowledge and perception among healthcare professionals in KAUH regarding facial plastic surgeries is on relatively good basis but needs more updates and trainings.

Recognition of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons by Dental Professionals and Their Perceptions Regarding Cosmetic Facial Surgery-A Questionnaire-Based Study

PURPOSE

The versatility of facial cosmetic surgery as a specialty has often been underestimated owing to the lack of knowledge and limited perception in our society. The present questionnaire-based study was performed to evaluate the attitude, knowledge, and perception of dentists regarding cosmetic facial surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We devised a well-structured questionnaire study in which 3 population groups of subjects included 420 interns, 133 BDS graduates, and 564 MDS graduates of various specialties from various colleges in Mangalore City. Closed-ended questions were formatted to evaluate the knowledge regarding specific facial cosmetic procedures. The subjects were asked to match 5 different specialists with 10 conditions or procedures. To investigate whether the subjects had an understanding of the multidisciplinary characteristic of some of the procedures, they were also asked to choose the specialty surgeon who might have an additional role. The subjects were asked whether they were aware of any relative who had undergone a cosmetic facial procedure and whether they regarded the surgical result as acceptable. Furthermore, they were asked whether they would contemplate referring patients for cosmetic surgery for any facial malformation. The institutional review board granted exemption for our study.

RESULTS

The results revealed that 94.9% of the professionals were ready to refer their patients for cosmetic facial surgery if required, and most had found the results satisfactory. Most of the dental professionals had knowledge regarding the various cosmetic facial procedures. However, they were not up to date regarding the magnitude of the progress and recent developments in the various specialties and were not able to refer their patients to the most appropriate specialist.

CONCLUSIONS

It is essential to create awareness among dental professionals regarding the scope of cosmetic facial surgery and the range of cosmetic procedures that an oral and maxillofacial surgeon can perform.

Perception and Knowledge of Facial Plastic Surgery Among Health Care Professionals at Tertiary Care Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Cross Sectional Study

Introduction:

Plastic surgery is a medical specialty involving the restoration, reconstruction, or alteration of the body. Knowledge about facial plastic surgery among doctors is limited according to some literatures and enriched according to others, depending on the country and study population.

Aim:

Aim of the study was to evaluate level of knowledge of health care professionals regarding facial plastic surgery.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study included total of 261 health care professionals (consultants, specialists and residents in training) at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital (KAUH) from all subspecialties during July 2018. The data collected using pre-designed questionnaire and analyzed using professional statistics software.

Results:

Among 261 participants, sex distribution shows a male-female ratio of 2.78:1. The majority (62.8%) of participants were residents. Mean age (± SD) of participants was 32.28 ± 8.43. Pediatrics, internal medicine, and general surgery were the most common specialties. Among participants, 75.5% agreed that taking training in plastic surgery program is a requirement to be a facial plastic surgeon whether it should be accompanied with at least one other surgery training (23%) or more than one other training (22.2%). The majority (97.7%) have never undergone a facial plastic surgery operation and 78.2% were not willing to undergo one.

Conclusion:

The study concludes that the knowledge and perception among healthcare professionals in KAUH regarding facial plastic surgeries is on relatively good basis but needs more updates and trainings.

Perception of Plastic Surgery and the Role of Media Among Medical Students: Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Although plastic surgery has been gaining a lot of popularity recently, there seems to be limited perception and a poor understanding of this field by both medical professionals, including medical students, and the general public. This might alter referral patterns as well as medical students’ choice to pursue a career in plastic surgery.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge and perception of plastic surgery among medical students and to explore the influencing factors underlying particular beliefs.

Methods

Data for this cross-sectional study were collected between August 22 and December 22, 2017. The questionnaire was formulated on the basis of our own study objectives and from available questionnaires with similar objectives. It was composed of 14 questions divided into three main parts: demographics, the specialty of plastic surgery, and media involvement and its effect on plastic surgery. The study was conducted via an online questionnaire among medical students in all years at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data were considered significant at P<.05. All analyses were performed using SPSS, version 20.

Results

A total of 886 medical students participated in this study. We achieved a response rate of 56.79%. The mean age of the participants was 21.2 years. The mean awareness score was 9.7 (SD 4.2) for female students and 8.3 (SD 4.2) for male students (P<.001). The condition most commonly known to be treated by a plastic surgeon was burns (70.3% of responses).

Conclusions

Medical students do not have adequate awareness of plastic surgery, and early exposure to this specialty may enhance their awareness.

Awareness and Perception of Plastic Surgery among Healthcare Professionals in Pune, India: Do They Really Know What We Do?

Purpose. The aim of this study is to understand the level of awareness and knowledge of plastic surgery in healthcare professionals in a tertiary health care facility in Pune, India. This study also aims to highlight the perception of the medical professionals about plastic surgery and what they think a plastic surgeon does. Materials and Methods. A questionnaire-based survey was done at B.J Medical College and Sassoon Hospital, Pune in 2011. Feedback evaluation forms from hundred resident doctors and faculty were evaluated and analyzed. Results. There is not much awareness about plastic surgery as a specialty amongst health care providers. Plastic surgery is mostly perceived as cosmetic surgery, and the other spectrum of the patients we cater to goes largely unnoticed. Of all the clinical conditions given to the participants, there was not a single clinical condition where the respondents favored unanimously for plastic surgeons. Conclusion. Plastic surgery as a specialty is poorly understood by our medical colleagues, and the onus of creating and improving the awareness and perception of our specialty lies on us. Herculean unified efforts at individual as well as global level will help us achieve this goal.

Aesthetic surgery: expanding horizons: concepts, desires, and fears of rural women in central India

BACKGROUND

We are experiencing greater demand for aesthetic surgery from rural populations. The present study attempts to understand their concepts and beliefs.

METHODS

A double-blinded survey with random sampling was done in 34 villages in central India. Sample population consisted of 1,000 unmarried rural women in the age range of 18-30 years. Subjects were interviewed in person and a questionnaire was filled out based on their response.

RESULTS

The response rate was 87.2%. Of the 872 respondents, 829 (95%) were aware of aesthetic surgery. Television was the most common source of information (61%). Health-care providers were a source of information for 2.5% of respondents. Aesthetic surgery was associated with "some change in face" by 35.7% of subjects. Surprisingly, 29.1% associated aesthetic surgery with face transplantation. The need for aesthetic surgery was perceived by 85.7% respondents. The face was the most common part of the body perceived to require aesthetic surgery (40.9%). Fifty-seven percent of respondents failed to identify the procedure required for aesthetic correction. Of the 711 respondents who perceived the need for an aesthetic procedure, 83.8% were willing to undergo surgery. Improved marriage prospects were the most common reason for seeking surgery. Cost was the most important variable considered while choosing surgery (49.3%). Cost was also the most frequent response when asked about the biggest fear (63.1%).

CONCLUSION

We recommend that scientific knowledge should be provided to the rural population, cost should be limited to a reasonable level, and the social needs of these patients should be fulfilled to ensure a greater reach of aesthetic procedures.