Why are men interested in cosmetic surgery procedures? Examining the role of different forms of peer influence, social comparison, internalization, and body dissatisfaction

The present research examined the role of different forms of peer influence, internalization, social comparison, and body dissatisfaction in predicting men’s interest in cosmetic surgery. Participants were 204 Italian men (age M = 34.02) who completed a self-report questionnaire. Regression analyses showed that appearance conversations with friends and peer attribution predicted consideration of cosmetic surgery for social reasons, while teasing on muscularity (but not teasing on general body and shape) predicted interest in cosmetic surgery for intrapersonal motives. Social comparison was significantly and positively associated with men’s interest in cosmetic surgery, while internalization was not. Dissatisfaction with body fat predicted men’s consideration of cosmetic surgery for social motivations, while muscularity and height dissatisfaction did not emerge as significant predictors of the outcome variables. These findings highlight the importance of psychosocial factors, such as peer influence, body fat dissatisfaction, and social comparison in predicting men’s interest in cosmetic procedures.