Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of cosmetic procedures among the Bisha population.
Methods: This study adopted a cross-research design from January 2024 to June 2024. It involved 388 residents of Bisha, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using an online questionnaire.
Results: Almost half of the participants (47.2%) had previous knowledge about cosmetic procedures. The most commonly known non-surgical cosmetic procedure was filler injections (40.2%), while the most prevalent surgical procedure was rhinoplasty (60.3%). Most participants believed the primary motivation for undergoing cosmetic procedures was to improve appearance (59.3%). Exactly three-quarters of the participants (75.0%) felt that low self-esteem was the primary motivation for cosmetic procedures. An overwhelming majority (92.3%) believed that cosmetic procedures were more prevalent among women than men. In terms of practice, only (35.6%) of the participants had undergone cosmetic procedures, with rhinoplasty (8.0%) being the most common surgical procedure. The only social demographic variable that demonstrated statistical significance with cosmetic procedure knowledge was gender (p-value = 0.003).
Conclusion: Nearly half of the participants knew cosmetic procedures, with rhinoplasty and liposuction being the most recognized surgical procedures, and filler injections and hair removal being the leading non-surgical options. The main motivations for undergoing cosmetic procedures include the desire to improve appearance and address low self-esteem, with a significant gender disparity favoring females in knowledge levels. Despite the high awareness, hesitancy persists due to fears of complications and religious beliefs.

Key words: Cosmetic procedures, surgery, beauty, complications, Saudi Arabia