Narzissmus und dunkle Persönlichkeitsmerkmale lassen auf einen starken Wunsch nach Schönheitsoperationen schließen. Die Studie identifizierte einen vorhersehbaren Zusammenhang zwischen dunkleren Persönlichkeitsmerkmalen und einer positiven Einstellung gegenüber ästhetischer Chirurgie.

-Individuals who exhibit traits of narcissism, psychopathy, and manipulativeness are noticeably more open to altering their physical appearance through cosmetic procedures. A recent [study](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00266-026-05875-3) evaluating university students identified a predictable relationship between these darker personality characteristics and a favorable attitude toward aesthetic surgery. The research was published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Cosmetic surgery encompasses procedures designed to change or enhance a person’s external appearance, distinct from reconstructive plastic surgery meant to repair physical abnormalities. Demand for aesthetic procedures like rhinoplasty, lip injections, and body contouring has surged over the last few years. Driven by social media and evolving beauty standards, many young adults view surgical intervention as a normal path to self-improvement. Researchers are increasingly working to understand the underlying psychological motives that push individuals toward these cosmetic alterations.

Psychologists often look at a cluster of personality traits known as the dark triad to understand socially abrasive behaviors. This trio consists of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. These traits exist on a spectrum, meaning everyone possesses them to varying degrees, though they are generally viewed negatively by society. High levels of these characteristics often relate to a lack of empathy and a strong desire for personal advancement or social dominance.

Narcissism involves an extreme self-focus, an inflated sense of superiority, and a constant need for outside admiration. Psychopathy is characterized by impulsive behavior, thrill-seeking tendencies, and a general disregard for the feelings of others. Machiavellianism describes a cynical worldview where an individual manipulates situations and treats other people as tools for personal gain.

Seeing as it’s about „manipulating“ your appearance, image and others‘ perception (or maybe rather your own) that makes sense.

Of course self-expression is the core of socialization and social interaction, but unnecessary plastic surgery always seemed a bit unfortunately pathological of a way to do that, and to appeal to as a business.

Interesting comparison would be to other body modification, but maybe plastic surgery is a bit unique in its covert, idealized naturalism, even though that’s not how it usually goes down in practice

I just commented a couple of days ago on a post about a guy, who was, I think, it is called looksmaxxing or smth like that. It is literally a proof of this. A very real thing. It is actually really sad, that those people have to go through all of that https://www.reddit.com/r/Justfuckmyshitup/s/CmVTKNfz3z

There was another study that showed men and women were shown three types of photos of people: one group with no aesthetic surgeries, one group with subtle aesthetics surgery, and one group with obvious enhancements. Overwhelmingly, the participants choose the group with subtle surgery as the most attractive. The obvious surgery ranked lower than no surgery.
The study was called the Goldilocks Effect of facial beauty