Looking Better Longer and Not Keeping it
a Secret
New Survey Shows Majority of Americans Approve of Cosmetic Surgery.
New York, NY (February 20, 2003)
new survey shows that more than half (54%) of all Americans approve
of cosmetic plastic surgery and nearly one-quarter (24%) say they
would consider having cosmetic surgery themselves, either now or
in the future. The February 2003 consumer attitudes poll of 1000
American households was commissioned by the American Society for
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and conducted by the independent
research firm Synovate (formerly Market Facts).
Whether people are married or unmarried has little to do with whether
or not they would consider cosmetic surgery; 24% of married Americans
and 25% of unmarried Americans said they would consider cosmetic
surgery.
Women are more likely than men to contemplate cosmetic surgery;
nearly one-third (30%) of women said they would consider having
cosmetic surgery, compared to 18% of men. But many of those who
might not want surgery themselves say it has nothing to do with
what others might think.
More than three-quarters (77%) of all women and 74% of all men said
that if they had cosmetic surgery, they would not be embarrassed
if other people knew about it.
“Most people today see nothing unusual about men and women
wanting to improve their appearance by having cosmetic plastic surgery,”
says ASAPS President Franklin DiSpaltro, MD. “People are living
longer, and they want to enjoy life more. Looking good is part of
feeling good, and that is what’s important to people.”
Even though approval of cosmetic surgery among people under 35 is
high (56%), younger people are more likely than older Americans
to want to keep their cosmetic surgery a secret. Twenty-four percent
(24%) of 18-to-34 year olds said they would not want people outside
their family and close friends to know they had undergone cosmetic
surgery, compared to only 8% of 55-to-64 year olds.
“It’s not surprising that people are very comfortable
about having cosmetic surgery to help reverse the signs of aging,
when they still feel young and vigorous in so many other ways,”
says Dr. DiSpaltro. “But no matter what your age, cosmetic
surgery should not be about changing who you are; it’s about
achieving harmony between how you look on the outside and how you
feel inside.”
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