Motivating factors for patients seeking rhytidectomies: An exploratory qualitative analysis.

[BACKGROUND] Rhytidectomy (facelift surgery) is commonly sought for aesthetic enhancement, yet little research has explored broader psychosocial motivations behind this aesthetic procedure.

[OBJECTIVE] This study aimed to identify the underlying psychosocial factors motivating patients to pursue rhytidectomy.

[METHODS] A retrospective, single-centre qualitative study was conducted on 131 consenting patients who presented for rhytidectomy between July 2023 and June 2024. Patients completed a structured questionnaire, and responses were analysed via thematic coding and descriptive statistics.

[RESULTS] The cohort was predominately female (88%) with a mean age of 53.7 years. Using thematic analysis, six key motivational domains were identified: 1) Aesthetic concerns (97.7%), 2) Desire for self-control over aging (53.4%), 3) Anticipation of positive emotions (33.6%), 4) Improved self-confidence/self-esteem (29.8%), 5) Social adversity concerns (6.9%) and 6) Employment-related expectations (6.9%). No statistically significant associations were found between motivational domains and patient age or psychiatric history.

[CONCLUSION] These findings suggest that while aesthetic improvement remains a primary driver, patients' decisions to pursue rhytidectomy are often shaped by more nuanced psychological and social factors. Accordingly, surgeons are recommended to consider these multifaceted drivers during pre-operative consultations to align expectations, optimise satisfaction, and collectively improve holistic care. Future research should explore the long-term psychosocial outcomes of these motivational profiles.