One in five Israeli women who get cosmetic procedures show signs of addiction, study finds

A significant portion of women undergoing cosmetic procedures may be developing an addiction, according to a new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI). Researchers found that one in five women who had cosmetic procedures met the criteria for moderate-to-severe risk of addictive cosmetic procedure use.

The study, published in the Journal of Health Psychology, surveyed 1,614 women aged 25 to 71. It identified low body esteem and problematic social media use as the most significant risk factors. The researchers adapted an assessment tool to evaluate "Addictive Cosmetic Procedures Use" (ACPU), including indicators like an inability to stop or cut down on procedures despite wanting to.

While cosmetic procedures are becoming more normalized globally, this research highlights a concerning trend. The study suggests that for some individuals, repeated treatments may stem from an addiction-like craving rather than a simple desire to enhance appearance. The findings indicate that nearly 9% of the women surveyed showed moderate-to-severe signs of problematic cosmetic procedure use, underscoring the need for increased awareness and clinical attention.

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I wanted to cut down on or stop having cosmetic procedures, but I couldn’t.