When it comes to physical beauty, what individuals admire in others may not mirror what they want to see in themselves, according to a new online survey of cosmetic surgery-minded consumers. The survey, conducted on the BeautyforLife website (www.beautyforlife.com)—a joint venture between the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS)— provides insight into the motivations and desires of cosmetic consumers, and also supports the growth of some recent trends, namely holistic cosmetic care and marketing efforts that emphasize the professional benefits of cosmetic procedures.
When asked, “What aspect of physical beauty do you find most appealing in another person?” respondents in their 20s, 30s and 40s ranked a fit, well-proportioned body No. 1, while respondents in their 50s and 60s chose youthful skin.
When asked, “Which part of your body are you most concerned about?” all age groups cited their face as their No. 1 concern, followed by the abdomen and hip area and finally the breast area. But there was some divergence among age groups when they were asked to cite “the most important reason to maintain your physical appearance.” “To boost confidence” was No. 1 across the board followed by “to attract potential partners” for respondents in their 20s and “to increase professional opportunities” for respondents in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
The survey results support the success of procedure packages and marketing initiatives—like Dr. Michelle Yagoda’s (beautyscoop.com) Career Lift—that offer minimally invasive procedures with short treatment times geared toward giving patients a competitive edge in today’s competitive work environment at an affordable price.
When asked to name “the most important factor in maintaining beauty,” a healthy diet, regular exercise and skin care were top choices, followed by medical cosmetic procedures. This holistic approach to patient care is being embraced by a growing number of doctors including Jeanette Graf, MD (www.askdrgraf.com) and Patrick Bitter, Jr., MD, and Hop Le, MD, who are helping patients achieve optimal results by offering recommendations on diet and exercise in conjunction with skincare recommendations and in-office procedures.
Inga Hansen, executive editor