The body image experiences of women working within the aesthetics sector: a thematic analysis of online survey and interview responses

Background:
Body dissatisfaction can have negative implications on health and wellbeing.

Aims:
Women working within the aesthetics sector have been identified as being vulnerable to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating; however, research exploring this population is scarce. This research aimed to investigate the area further.

Methods:
Online surveys and interviews were used to explore the body image experiences of 41 women working in the aesthetics sector.

Findings:
Thematic analysis highlighted three themes: a feeling that looking ‘good’ was necessitated by their profession; ubiquitous and inevitable nature of appearance comparisons; and an appearance satisfaction dichotomy, with some reporting feeling satisfied and others dissatisfied.

Conclusion:
The body image experiences of women working in the aesthetic sector are mixed and can be complex. The implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.