Motivations and characteristics of patients seeking minimally invasive cosmetic procedures in two Iranian dermatology centers: A cross-sectional study.

Few studies have evaluated patients' motivations for seeking minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. This study aimed to assess the demographic characteristics and motivation of patients who seek minimally invasive cosmetic procedures in two academic referral dermatology centers. The study included adult patients seeking minimally invasive facial cosmetic procedures at two academic dermatology centers in Tehran, Iran, between January 2019 and June 2019. The majority of patients were married, employed women with a mean age of 39.6 ± 10.74 years. The most common region of the face they expected to change was the eyes (56%). Patients who requested fillers desired their cheeks to improve significantly more than patients who requested toxin injections (20.5% vs. 3%;  = .005). Patients had mostly heard about the procedures from friends (40.4%). Approximately one third of patients had experienced a major life event during the preceding year (loss of a family member [50%], marriage [26.9%]). A minority of patients had ever visited a psychiatrist (13.9%), and 15.3% had a history of using psychiatric drugs. The procedure type requested by men was significantly different from that requested by women (88.2% vs. 60.8 % for Botox; 11.8% vs. 34.9% for fillers, and 0% vs. 4.3 % for fat injections;  = .044). The most common motivating factor for patients was gaining rejuvenation (39.2%). The most common preventive factors for patients to undergo the procedures earlier were financial issues (41.7%). Patients seeking minimally invasive cosmetic procedures were married, educated, employed women in their 30s desiring rejuvenation and commonly were not influenced by external factors, such as relationships or the media.