Preliminary Findings on Gender Differences in Aesthetic Rhinoplasty Patients: Body Appreciation and Appearance Comparisons

Abstract

Objective: Body image has a crucial role in considering elective aesthetic surgery. Yet, gender differences have not been well studied in this respect. The present study aimed to provide preliminary comparisons between male and female patients regarding body appreciation and appearance comparisons.
Materials and Methods: A consecutive sample of 70 rhinoplasty patients was selected in a private surgical clinic in Tehran, Iran. The Persian versions of Body Appreciation Scale (BAS) and Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (PACS-R) were used to gather data. Independent t-test was used to compare the scores between male and female participants.
Results: Male patients had higher scores in body appreciation (p<0.05) and women had higher scores in physical appearance comparisons. The magnitude of the relationship was large for body appreciation (d=0.71) and small for appearance comparisons (d=0.08).
Conclusion: Findings of the present study showed that Iranian male rhinoplasty patients hold more positive attitudes toward their body and tend to compare their physical appearance less often. It is suggested for future research to conduct studies on gender differences among rhino-plasty patients regarding other body image variables.