Evaluation of female patients motivating factors for aesthetic surgery.

[BACKGROUND] Nowadays, plastic surgeries are among the most popular types of surgeries around the world and Iran has one of the highest rankings in this respect regarding its population size. Based on these facts, the present study was conducted in order to evaluate the volunteers' motivations attitudes and informational sources in Tehran, Iran.

[METHODS] The study was conducted on a cross-sectional basis. All patients who underwent plastic surgeries during years 2005 and 2006 were evaluated and all the required information was recorded and statistically analyzed.

[RESULTS] Seventy five patients were enrolled. Their average age was 33±13 years (minimum of 17 and maximum of 63 years old). Rhinoplasty (52%) and abdominoplasty (8%) were the most and least common performed surgeries, respectively. The major important motivators were family, friends, classmates, and colleagues (40%) and the least were magazines and journals (4%).10.7% oftheparticipants described theposture and function of the target organs as perfect, but they planned to improve its aesthetic or functional aspects by surgery.

[CONCLUSION] Those who achieve their information of aesthetic surgery from mass media have a better understanding of this field. Also, the motivational stimuli for performing aesthetic surgeries have shown to be different from what were previously deemed.