Facial treatment preferences in aesthetically aware women

Abstract

Background: Individuals typically self-identify symptoms of facial aging that lead them to seek facial aesthetic treatments. No systematic data exist to describe preferences for facial areas requiring treatment.

Objective: To determine (1) the facial areas most likely to be treated first, (2) the relationship between the most bothersome facial area and the area first planned for treatment, and (3) differences between younger and older women.

Methods: A total of 603 women aged 30 to 65 years considering aesthetic treatments participated in an online research survey using Maximum Difference scaling.

Results: Maximum Difference analysis revealed that crow's feet lines (CFLs) were most likely to be treated first (82% of the first preferences), followed by oral commissures (74%) and tear troughs (72%). There was a strong correlation between the most bothersome facial area and the area first planned for treatment. In women younger than 45 years, features of the upper face were more likely to be treated first, whereas women aged 50 years or older had an increased preference for treating features of the lower face, with a reduction in preference for upper face treatment.

Conclusion: This cross-sectional survey suggests that aesthetically oriented women have changing facial treatment preferences with age; however, CFLs are of most concern.