Attitude and Practice of Aesthetic Surgery among Plastic Surgeons in Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Aesthetic surgery in developed countries is growing at an exponential rate. There is an increasing demand for cosmetic procedures in Nigeria but still, the practice is at a slow pace. Significant clients from Nigeria seek for these procedures outside Nigeria. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at determining the attitude and practice of aesthetic surgery among plastic surgeons in Nigeria METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional study among the attendees of the annual conference of the National Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons held at Calabar, Nigeria, using a questionnaire on consented participants. RESULTS: A total of 73 out of 84 Plastic surgeons participated in the study with a response rate of 86.9%. The mean age of the respondents was 45.4±7.2 years. Only 14 (19.2%) had undergone extra training in cosmetic surgery. Most respondents 53.4% prefer Nigerian over foreign hospitals for cosmetic surgery for various reasons. Poor awareness (42.5%) and religious beliefs (42.5%) contributed most to the poor acceptability of cosmetic surgery in Nigeria. The vast majority (97%) of Nigerian plastic surgeons want the public to be engaged in awareness sensitization on cosmetic surgery and their preferred mode of sensitization was through internet / social media (80.8%), television (74%), and radio (65.8%). Scar revision (78.1%) abdominoplasty (69.9%) and breast reduction (67.1) were the common cosmetic procedures performed by Nigerian plastic surgeons. CONCLUSION: The attitude of Plastic surgeons in Nigeria to cosmetic surgery is influenced by the low acceptance of cosmetic surgery procedures by Nigerians. Attitudinal change programs, especially through social and other mass media, are desired to increase awareness and acceptance of cosmetic surgery in Nigeria.