OBJECTIVES: the present study was conducted to evaluate females’ experiences and attitudes towards cosmetic surgery.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among females in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq from January to April 2021. A convenience sample technique was adopted to select the participants. An online validated questionnaire was conducted for gathering of data. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used in the analysis of data.

RESULTS: A total of 344 females (out of 385) participated in the study given a response rate of 90%. Their age ranged between 20 to 60 years old. The most used cosmetic surgeries were laser hair removal, liposuction, Derma-Pen technique, filler and Botox, and peeling cuticle. A strong positive attitude was seen towards cosmetic surgeries which was associated with age, educational level, and marital status. Social media, friends, and body dissatisfaction were the main reason beyond this practice.

CONCLUSIONS: Different types of cosmetic surgeries are familiar among females in Iraq with strong positive attitudes towards this practice. A regulatory educational intervention to ensure female’s safety and satisfaction with their shapes is warranted. In addition, guidelines for surgeons and technicians who perfume this type of cosmetic techniques should be available and validated by qualified health professional authorities.