Experiences and attitudes toward aesthetic procedures in East Asia: a cross-sectional survey of five geographical regions

• Published in: Archives of plastic surgery Vol. 48; no. 6; pp. 660 - 669
• Main Authors: Kwon, Soo-Ha, Lao, William Wei-Kai, Lee, Che-Hsiung, Hsu, Angela Ting-Wei, Koide, Satomi, Chen, Hsing-Yu, Cho, Ki-Hyun, Tanaka, Eiko, Cheon, Young-Woo, Chang, Tommy Nai-Jen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc 01.11.2021; Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons; 대한성형외과학회
• Subjects: Clinical Practice and Education; cosmetic surgery; esthetics; surveys and questionnaires; 성형외과학; Esthetics; Cosmetic surgery; Surveys and questionnaires
• ISSN: 2234-6163; 2234-6171
• DOI: 10.5999/aps.2020.02565

Background The demand for aesthetic procedures continues to grow globally, particularly in East Asian countries. The popularity of specific aesthetic procedures varies, however, depending on the particular East Asian geographical region being studied. This study aimed to evaluate the experiences of and attitudes toward aesthetic procedures in five East Asian countries/regions, including China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Methods To recruit participants, an online questionnaire was designed and distributed on social media networks between May 2015 and March 2016. The statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software, version 22.0. Results A total of 3,088 people responded (approximately 600 in each country/region). Of these, 940 participants (47.8%) responded that they had experienced at least one aesthetic procedure in the past. Taiwan had the highest number of participants who had experienced at least one procedure (264/940, 41%), with primarily non-surgical experiences. Only in South Korea did surgical cosmetic experiences exceed non-surgical cosmetic experiences (55.9% vs. 44.1%). The popularity of particular procedures and the motivation for undergoing aesthetic procedures varied by country. Conclusions The popularity of aesthetic procedures continues to evolve. Similar trends were observed across the East Asian regions; however, each country had its unique demands and preferences. The information provided by this study can help aesthetic plastic surgeons further understand the patients in their corresponding region, customize their practice, and develop the requisite skills.