Patients-reported motivations and obstacles for seeking surgical blepharoplasty in the Egyptian population
Hani A. Albialy, Moustafa Salamah, Hebatallah M. Fawzy, Reem A.K. DessoukyPurpose
To assess patient-reported motivations and obstacles for seeking surgical blepharoplasty in the Egyptian population.
Study design
Multicenter cross-sectional study.
Patients and methods
This study was conducted from July to December 2023 using an Arabic semi-structured questionnaire. Patients presenting for oculoplastic consultation for upper eyelid blepharochalasis and consenting to participate were included. Data collected included demographic characteristics, reasons for consultation, motivations and barriers to surgery, and acceptance of the procedure.
Results
A total of 88 participants completed the questionnaire. Most respondents were female (78.4%) and aged 45–64 years (77.3%). Ages 25–44 years and ages older than 64 years represented only 18.1 and 4.5%, respectively. Nearly half were married (46.6%), and 69.4% had a university education. The leading cosmetic motivation was the desire to look more attractive to others (95.5%). Improvement in quality of life was the most anticipated psychological benefit (93.2%), followed by increased self-confidence (86.4%). Socially, the desire to look better in front of known individuals was the strongest factor (97.7%), while professionally, improving appearance at work was the main driver (54.5%). Physician (67%) and hospital (51.1%) reputation significantly influenced decision-making. The main barriers to surgery were fear of scar formation (77.3%) and fear of unsatisfactory outcomes (70.5%). After consultation, 77.3% of participants were willing to consider surgery.
Conclusions
The decision to undergo blepharoplasty is influenced by a combination of cosmetic, psychological, professional, and social factors. Understanding these aspects enables surgeons to better align surgical goals with patient expectations, optimize preoperative counseling, and ultimately enhance postoperative satisfaction.