The Influence of Social Media on Interest in Cosmetic Procedures Among Medical Students and Doctors

Authors : Arzu Ferhatosmanoğlu, İbrahim Etem Arica
Pages : 451-456
Doi:10.32708/uutfd.1747242
View : 65 | Download : 864
Publication Date : 2025-12-08
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Social media has become a key source of information on cosmetic procedures and may influence both professional perspectives and patient choices. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between social media use and interest in surgical and non-surgical cosmetic treatments among medical students and doctors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 431 participants aged 18–55 years. Data on demographics, social media use, cosmetic procedure history, and family attitudes were collected. Most respondents (93.9%) reported social media use, and 68.5% sought cosmetic-related information through these platforms. The most frequently used sources were Instagram (55.2%), Google (53.0%), and YouTube (33.9%). Women were more likely to use beauty filters (p=0.006) and were significantly more influenced by cosmetic treatment advertisements, particularly for non-surgical procedures (p<0.001). Individuals aged ≥35 years showed higher rates of both surgical and non-surgical procedures (p<0.001). Overall, 30.5% of participants had undergone at least one cosmetic procedure, with botulinum toxin injection being the most common non-surgical treatment and rhinoplasty the most common surgical procedure. These findings demonstrate that social media plays an important role in shaping cosmetic interests and behaviors even among medically trained individuals. Women and older participants were more likely to engage in or consider cosmetic treatments, highlighting the impact of gender, age, and targeted online content. Increased education on digital influence and ethical communication during medical training is essential to ensure accurate information sharing and to guide patient counseling regarding cosmetic procedures.
Keywords : kozmetik dermatoloji, kozmetik prosedürler, sosyal medya

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