Between the scroll and the scalpel: Exploring body dysmorphic disorder and social media's role in cosmetic surgery seekers

In modern society, social media networking has become a crucial part of daily life. However, engaging with these platforms has obvious and subtle effects on individuals and their communities. One of the more significant negative consequences is the connection between excessive social media usage and psychological issues, particularly Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). This paper examines social media addiction and the implications of BDD for those contemplating cosmetic surgery.

This cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to May 2024 in two private plastic and facial surgery clinics affiliated with our university of medical sciences. A total of 120 adults (aged 18-45) seeking elective cosmetic surgery were recruited consecutively. Inclusion criteria included informed consent, active social media use, and no recent psychiatric or surgical history. Participants completed three validated instruments: a demographic questionnaire, the Persian version of the Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire (DCQ) (α = 0.78), and the Social Media Addiction Scale (α = 0.92). After descriptive analysis and assessment of variable correlations using Pearson's correlation coefficient, the data were analysed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) in SPSS 23.

Among 120 candidates for cosmetic surgery, comprising 80.8 % women with a mean age of 28.6 ± 6.1 years, the DCQ was found to be significantly associated with all dimensions of social media addiction (SMA) (P < 0.001). Additionally, significant correlations were found between BDD and SMA across various socio-demographic states. According to the results of MANOVA, significant differences in BDD scores were identified in education level, occupation situation, and income levels, as well as SMA scores with type of cosmetic surgery and daily hours of social media use (P < 0.05).

It is essential to emphasise that the study established a positive correlation between social media addiction and BDD among the prospective cosmetic surgery participants. This relationship varies by income and education, indicating that such disorders are prevalent in societies.