Evaluating Aesthetic Concerns Among Hispanic, Latinx Women

CHICAGO — Among women interested in aesthetic treatments, Hispanic/Latinx women are more concerned about submental fat and under-eye hollowing, which differed from the top concerns in White women, according to the results of a study that involved a survey of almost 4000 women.

To date, the aesthetic needs of Hispanic/Latinx patients, the second largest ethnic group in the United States, have been poorly understood. “Most [aesthetic] marketing materials are gauged toward Caucasian patients,” Sabrina Fabi, MD, a dermatologist and dermatologic cosmetic surgeon in San Diego, California, said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), where she presented the study results.

In addition, Dr Fabi noted that current studies of facial and body aesthetics are limited in terms of representation. “When we look at studies, they are more Fitzpatrick type IIs and IIIs,” she said. Addressing this gap, she and her colleagues conducted the large multicenter study to learn more about cosmetic concerns unique to Hispanic/Latinx women, across different ethnic groups, and how they may differ by age.

In the study, an online survey was administered to aesthetically-inclined adults across different demographic groups in the United States. Specifically, respondents were surveyed regarding 41 facial and 31 body characteristics, identifying those they found bothersome. Maximum difference scaling was used to generate their most and least bothersome characteristics in each respective category.

Of the 3974 women surveyed, 748 self-identified as Hispanic/Latinx and female. Most participants (86%) were born in the United States and were interested in aesthetic treatments (93%). The majority of patients identified as Generation X (42-57 years, 40.0%), followed by older Millennials (31-41 years, 33.0%), Generation Z/young Millennials (under 30 years, 16.7%), and Baby Boomers and older (over 57 years, 10.3%). Participants most commonly reported Fitzpatrick skin types III (24%) and IV (56%), and BMIs of 18.5 kg/m² to 2 (42%) and 25 to 2 (27%).

Among Hispanic/Latinx women, the top facial concerns were related to submental fat (36%) and under-eye hollowing (35%). This is in contrast to White counterparts, who tended to find wrinkles more bothersome, according to Dr Fabi. Among Hispanic/Latinx women, the top body concerns were related to stubborn fat involving the stomach (50%), sides (44%), and bra or the back area (40%).

Despite the shared concern of stubborn body fat across age groups, facial concerns shifted from skin quality (50%) and undereye issues (43%) in the younger generations to upper facial lines (52%) and jowls/sagging skin (57%) in the older generations.

Dr Fabi stated that approximately 30% of the population she sees is Hispanic/Latinx, and the results of this study substantiate what she sees in her practice. “This magnifies the things we need to be talking to them more about specifically.” The findings from this survey may aid in the customization of treatment plans to better serve this population, she said.

The study was sponsored by Allergan Aesthetics, which participated in the trial design, research, analysis, data collection, interpretation of data, and the review and approval of the publication. Dr Fabi and three other authors are speakers, consultants, and investigators for Allergan. Other authors are on the advisory board, or are employees of Abbvie, Allergan’s parent company, and may own stock.

This article originally appeared on MDedge.com, a part of the Medscape Professional Network.