What makes you anxious about your first aesthetic medicine treatment? A survey on reasons for hesitation and conditions that make booking easier (Leap beauty clinic survey)

Even if interested in aesthetic medicine, many people hesitate to take the first step due to anxieties unique to first-timers, such as "how much will it cost?", "what are the risks?", or "what treatment is right for me?".

Therefore, Leap beauty clinic (https://leap-beauty.com/), which supports women troubled by beauty concerns, conducted a survey targeting 200 women aged 20-50s, on the theme of "What are the reasons for hesitating with aesthetic medicine? Investigating concerns when using it for the first time."

This article unravels the reality behind three sets of data: reasons for hesitation regarding aesthetic medicine, what people want to confirm before their first treatment, and the conditions that make it easier to make an initial appointment.

Let's look at the voices revealed by the survey together, regarding what anxieties people have about their first aesthetic medicine treatment and what information would make it easier to consider with peace of mind.

## Table of Contents
- Survey 1: Reasons for hesitating when considering aesthetic medicine for the first time
- Survey 2: Points to specifically confirm before using aesthetic medicine for the first time
- Survey 3: Conditions that make it easier to make an initial appointment
- Summary: "Satisfaction" and "peace of mind" are prioritized for first-time aesthetic medicine use

## Q1. If you were considering aesthetic medicine for the first time, please select the reasons that apply to your hesitation (anxiety/resistance). (Multiple selections allowed: Note 1)
Note 1: This question allows multiple selections but is limited to three choices. This is to more clearly grasp the reasons for hesitating when considering aesthetic medicine for the first time.

- The most common response was "[Cost] High cost / Unclear total cost (including additional fees)" at 48.5% (97 people). It is clear that even if interested in aesthetic medicine, the financial aspect is the first concern at the entry point of consideration. The inability to see the total cost, including not only the price of the procedure itself but also additional fees, seems to be a cause of hesitation.
- Next, "[Risk] Anxiety about medical risks such as side effects and failure" was 38.5% (77 people), and "[Result] Anxiety that the outcome may be unnatural (difficult to redo, etc.)" was 21.0% (42 people). In addition to whether the procedure can be performed safely, there is also a strong awareness of whether the appearance will be unnatural afterward, indicating a strong desire to avoid failure.
- Also, "[Reliability] Unable to judge the skill and reliability of doctors and clinics" was 19.0% (38 people), "[Aftercare] Anxiety about whether troubles after the procedure will be handled properly" was 16.0% (32 people), and "[Solicitation] Anxiety about aggressive solicitation or additional proposals" was 13.0% (26 people). Not only the content of the procedure, but also whom to entrust it to, whether they can consult with peace of mind even after the procedure, and whether they will have an unpleasant experience during counseling, are also sources of anxiety when using it for the first time.
- On the other hand, "[Downtime] Anxiety about downtime (swelling, redness, internal bleeding, and impact on daily life)" was 15.5% (31 people), "[Pain] Fear of pain" was 15.0% (30 people), and "[Hassle] Significant burden of booking and clinic visits (time and effort)" was 9.5% (19 people). It is understood that aesthetic medicine is considered not only for the moment of receiving the procedure but also for its impact on subsequent life and ease of access. Considering the impact on work and schedule, a certain number of people may hesitate to proceed immediately, even if interested.
- Furthermore, "[Necessity] Unsure if it's necessary for me / Hesitant about whether to do it" was 6.5% (13 people), "[Effect/Treatment Selection] Unclear outlook on efficacy / Unsure what treatment suits me" was 5.5% (11 people), "[Privacy] Don't want others to know / Concerned about prejudice" was 3.5% (7 people), and "[Information/Comparison] Too much information, difficult to compare and judge" was 2.5% (5 people). Although the percentages are not high, the inability to determine if it's truly necessary for oneself, and the difficulty in choosing due to abundant information, are also reasons for hesitation. Some people were also seen hesitating due to concerns about what others think.
- In addition, "None in particular" was 10.5% (21 people), "Don't know" was 4.0% (8 people), and "Other" was 1.0% (2 people).

## Q2. What points do you particularly want to confirm before using aesthetic medicine for the first time? (Multiple selections allowed: Note 2)
Note 2: This question allows multiple selections but is limited to three choices. This is to more clearly grasp the points people specifically want to confirm before using aesthetic medicine for the first time.

- The most common response was "[Cost] Breakdown of fees / Total cost (presence/absence of additional fees / presence/absence of course restrictions)" at 47.0% (94 people). At the stage before receiving aesthetic medicine for the first time, there is a strong desire to clearly know the final cost, rather than the content of the procedure itself. The fact that many people want to confirm additional fees and contract terms indicates that they prioritize avoiding unexpected burdens.
- Next, "[Risk] Explanation of risks, side effects, and contraindications (conditions under which treatment cannot be received)" was 27.5% (55 people). When using aesthetic medicine for the first time, many people want to fully understand what dangers there are and whether the procedure is suitable for them. Whether explanations about safety are sufficient is an important factor that determines whether consideration can proceed with peace of mind.
- Also, "[Reliability] Doctor's qualifications and track record / Who will be in charge" was 21.5% (43 people), "[Aftercare] Follow-up after the procedure (re-examination, guarantee, response to troubles)" was 19.0% (38 people), and "[Result] Image of the outcome (how natural it can be / design philosophy)" was 18.0% (36 people). It is clear that not only the procedure itself, but also who will be in charge, what kind of outcome can be aimed for, and how much support will be provided after the procedure are considered important. For first-time users, consistent and satisfactory explanations and support are required from before to after the procedure.
- Furthermore, "[Effect/Treatment Selection] Can I receive proposals for treatments that suit me / Expected changes (range and limits of efficacy)" was 15.0% (30 people), "[Pain] Degree of pain / Presence and method of anesthesia" was also 15.0% (30 people), and "[Downtime] Estimate of downtime (duration and symptoms) and precautions in daily life" was 14.0% (28 people). It is difficult to decide to undergo treatment if one is unsure of which procedure suits them. In addition, the intensity of pain, method of anesthesia, and how long swelling and redness after the procedure will last, along with the physical burden and impact on daily life, are considered points to confirm in advance.
- On the other hand, "[Necessity] Necessity and priority of treatment (whether non-treatment options are also explained)" was 10.0% (20 people), "[Information/Comparison] Case photos and before-and-after (whether there are examples with similar conditions to oneself)" was 7.0% (14 people), and "[Solicitation] Presence/absence of solicitation / Ease of refusal (not pressured to sign a contract on the day)" was 6.5% (13 people). Precisely because it is a first-time use, a certain number of people want to consult not just on the premise of receiving treatment, but also on whether it is truly necessary. The desire to judge based on cases similar to oneself and the wish not to be pressured into a contract are also evident.
- Furthermore, "[Hassle] Ease of booking / Accessibility (location, opening hours, etc.)" was 4.5% (9 people), and "[Privacy] Consideration for privacy (waiting room, calling, private rooms, etc.)" was 1.5% (3 people). Although the percentages are not high, some people are concerned about practical aspects such as accessibility and privacy considerations.

## Q3. What conditions make it easier to make an initial appointment? (Multiple selections allowed: Note 3)
Note 3: This question allows multiple selections but is limited to three choices. This is to more clearly grasp the conditions that make it easier to make an initial appointment.

- The most common response was "[Cost] Clear pricing (total cost presentation / explanation of additional fees)" at 43.5% (87 people). At the stage of making an initial appointment, in addition to interest in the procedure itself, the ability to confirm costs with peace of mind is a major condition. The fact that explanations of additional fees are also sought, not just the total cost, indicates that avoiding unexpected burdens later is prioritized.
- Next, "[Reliability] Doctor's (person in charge) track record is sufficiently shown" was 24.0% (48 people), "[Risk] Risk explanations are easy to understand and precautions are clear" was 19.0% (38 people), and "[Aftercare] Post-operative support and guarantee are clear and reassuring" was 17.5% (35 people). Even before making an appointment, having a clear understanding of who will be in charge, what precautions there are, and how much support will be provided after the procedure leads to peace of mind. Precisely because it is a first-time use, careful explanations and clear prospects for support are required, not just the impression at the moment.
- Also, "[Necessity] Being able to be convinced during counseling whether to 'do it' or 'not do it' (careful explanation of necessity)" was 15.0% (30 people), and "[Effect/Treatment Selection] Clear treatment policy that suits me (proposals that are convincing, not forced)" was 14.5% (29 people). To make it easier to make an initial appointment, it seems important to be able to calmly judge whether it is truly necessary for oneself, rather than proceeding on the premise of receiving treatment. Whether convincing proposals can be received without being forced is also a factor that lowers the hurdle to booking.
- Furthermore, "[Downtime] Clear estimate of downtime, allowing imagination of impact on daily life" was 10.5% (21 people), "[Pain] Clear pain management (explanation of anesthesia / pain reduction)" was 10.0% (20 people), and "[Result] Able to have an image of the desired outcome (design policy / examples available)" was 9.5% (19 people). The more concretely one can imagine the degree of pain, how to spend time after the procedure, and what the appearance will be, the more anxiety about the initial appointment seems to be alleviated. The extent to which one can form an image of the outcome also seems to be related to the ease of booking.
- On the other hand, "[Solicitation] Clearly stated that there will be no aggressive solicitation / Easy to refuse" was 9.0% (18 people), "[Hassle] Easy to book / Accessible (location, opening hours, etc.)" was 7.0% (14 people), "[Information/Comparison] Abundant case photos, easy to compare (examples with similar conditions to oneself)" was 5.0% (10 people), and "[Privacy] Consideration for privacy" was 4.0% (8 people). Although not among the top percentages, factors such as a friendly consultation atmosphere, an accessible environment, and enriched comparable information also seem to encourage bookings. For first-time aesthetic medicine treatments, not only the procedure itself, but also the ease of consultation is considered important.

## Summary: "Satisfaction" and "peace of mind" are prioritized for first-time aesthetic medicine use
What this survey revealed is that the background to hesitation in aesthetic medicine is not a lack of interest, but rather anxiety about "not having sufficient convincing information." When considering it for the first time, not only costs and risks, but also the outlook on results, ease of consultation, and post-treatment support are emphasized, as is the ability to make decisions with peace of mind.

Furthermore, what leads to initial appointments is not strongly promoting the appeal of the procedure, but rather having necessary information for consideration clearly organized.