Influence of High Expectations and Selfie Photographs on the Satisfaction Level of Facial Plastic Surgery in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia

Introduction Selfies are most commonly posted on social media, where their popularity has led to intensified awareness by the subjects of their appearance. This, led to higher demand for cosmetic procedures, intending to enhance how the subject appears in future selfies. Aim This study aims to evaluate the influence of high expectations and selfie photographs on satisfaction level results of facial plastic surgery in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Subject and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among Eastern Province residents of Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to the residents using an online survey. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics (i.e., age, gender, nationality, etc.) and specific questions regarding the influence of selfie photographs and high expectations on the satisfaction rates among patients who had facial plastic surgery. Results Of the 192 participants, 79.2% were females, and 44.8% were aged between 18 to 30 years old. The most commonly sought cosmetic surgery was rhinoplasty (38.5%). 71.4% were taking selfies, while 39.1% perceived better expectations with plastic surgery. High expectations with plastic surgery were more prevalent in older and married participants. It is important to note that an increased satisfaction rate after cosmetic procedures was more associated with high expectations of plastic surgery. Conclusion High expectations directly influence satisfaction with appearance after the cosmetic procedure, but taking selfies does not. Respondents of older age and who were married demonstrated better expectations of plastic surgery compared to the rest of the groups. More investigations are required to confirm the relationship between expectation and taking selfies in terms of satisfaction with self-appearance after cosmetic surgery.