Global Trends in Research on Social Media and Cosmetic Surgery Consideration: A Bibliometric Analysis

Document Type

Review

Publication Date

4-1-2026

Abstract

Background: Scholarly interest in the relationship between social media and cosmetic surgery has increased substantially, as digital platforms play an increasingly central role in shaping aesthetic norms, body image perceptions, and elective medical decision-making. However, the rapid expansion of this literature has yet to be systematically mapped at a global level. Objective: This study aims to provide a comprehensive bibliometric overview of research examining the relationship between social media and cosmetic surgery, with particular attention to publication trends, knowledge structures, collaborative patterns, and thematic evolution over time. Methods: A systematic bibliometric analysis was conducted on 525 publications retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, covering the period from 2010 to 2024. Studies were identified following the PRISMA 2020 framework and analyzed using VOSviewer to visualize annual publication trends, co-authorship networks, co-citation structures, and keyword co-occurrence clusters. Results: Findings indicate an exponential rise in research activity post-2020, with the USA leading in publication output yet exhibiting relatively low international collaboration. Citation analysis highlights several seminal contributions that have shaped the field's clinical, psychological, and sociocultural dimensions. Thematic mapping reveals a notable shift from platform-specific studies (e.g., Facebook, Instagram) toward emerging concerns such as ethnic diversity, body dissatisfaction, medical ethics, and digital patient education. Furthermore, keyword trends suggest increasing academic attention to the psychosocial implications of algorithmic beauty standards. Conclusions: This bibliometric review demonstrates the rapid growth and increasing interdisciplinarity of scholarship on social media and cosmetic surgery, while also highlighting structural imbalances in global knowledge production. The findings clarify the intellectual landscape of the field and identify emerging research directions to inform future theoretical development and empirical inquiry. Level of Evidence V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Publication Title

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

ISSN

0364216X

DOI

10.1007/s00266-026-05687-5

Volume

50

Issue

7

First Page

2840

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