Psychological and Personality Characteristics of Applicants for Facial Cosmetic Surgery

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological and personality characteristics of the applicants for facial cosmetic surgery. Methods This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 385 facial cosmetic surgery applicants who referred to medical centers in Ahvaz (south Iran). The data collection tool included three questionnaires: (1) demographic questions, (2) the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and (3) the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Results The results showed that 45.2% of the participants had abnormal health status. The mean score of the participants on the openness subscale was insignificantly lower than that of the general population (p > 0.05). On the other hand, the mean scores of the participants on the conscientiousness and agreeableness subscales were significantly lower (p < 0.001). Finally, the mean score of the samples on the extroversion subscale was significantly higher than that of the general population (p < 0.001). Conclusion Given the results of the study, it is strongly recommended to address the personality and psychological characteristics of the applicants for cosmetic surgery before operating on them.