One in every ten Bulgarians would undergo beautification or rejuvenation plastic surgery

Mila Grigorova, BBSS Gallup International, exclusively for Klassa

Some 7% of the Bulgarians polled say they would undergo an aesthetic surgery to improve their appearance, while 2% would resort to the aid of surgeons for rejuvenation, shows data from the most recent nationally representative survey, conducted by BBSS Gallup International in early August and commissioned by Klassa.

Much has been said and written about the problems of plastic surgery in Bulgaria in the recent months, including some manipulations performed by non-medical persons and in outpatient establishments, such as injecting Botox by beauticians in beauty parlours and the increasingly common practice of young girls undergoing plastic surgeries. These problems have led to discussions about a stricter regulation of plastic surgery - including the requirements determining which doctors exactly could perform the different types of surgeries and whether plastic surgeries should be prohibited for people under a certain age.

Half of the respondents stated they would never resort to plastic surgeons. The other half said they would make such a step if they get a scar or deformation as a result of an accident (33%) or if they have a physical problem since birth (21%). Less than 10% of the Bulgarians are inclined to undergo a plastic surgery in order to just improve their appearance or rejuvenate.

The public opinion is, in general, positively disposed to plastic surgery, mostly when it concerns medically justified surgeries, such as correcting the appearance of people with birth defects or of people injured in accidents.

 A total of 59% of the respondents expressed a positive opinion towards this type of plastic surgery and 43% said they would only approve of correcting real problems in a person's appearance, but not of wrinkles removal or placement of silicone implants. The most widely open to plastic surgery are the youngest (18-25 year-olds), the university graduates and the modern Bulgarians.

Understandably, the public opinion is most positive towards plastic surgeries for people with congenital defects or victims of accidents, whose appearance has been injured. Nearly 90% of Bulgaria's adult population approves of correcting the appearance of such people.

The acceptability of cosmetic corrections is much more moderate when the case is not medically justified and does not concern defects. Gallup asked the respondents to say to what extent it is acceptable for various people in different situations to resort to plastic surgeons. The most acceptable case (after correcting defects or deformations) for Bulgarians is the improvement of appearance on the part of show business representatives. The positive assessment is less than 40% - obviously, Bulgarians accept the appearance of the celebrities as part of their profession.

The public opinion demonstrates a particular sensitivity to plastic surgeries on underage people (less than 18 years old). Over 70% of the respondents consider as totally unacceptable the recently fashionable practice of implanting silicon in the breasts or lips of school children for the prom.