Cosmetic Surgeries as Conspicuous Consumption: Disclosing Information About Having Undergone Cosmetic Surgery Signals Social Status

Abstract

Status signals constantly evolve as high-status individuals seek new ways to differentiate themselves from others. This Case Report explores how disclosing engagement in cosmetic surgeries on social media can serve as an emerging status cue. Cosmetic surgeries, due to their high financial cost, extended recovery time, and non-utilitarian nature, signal a consumer’s ability to afford luxury and leisure. Six studies, including two preregistered, tested whether sharing cosmetic surgery experiences enhances perceived social status. The current findings consistently show that such disclosure significantly boosts inferred social status, challenging the belief that cosmetic surgeries solely offer aesthetic benefits. A seventh study tested the notion that heightened status-seeking motivation increases the desire for cosmetic surgeries, confirming this relationship. These results contribute to the framework of distance and alternative status signals, highlighting the dynamic nature of status displays and the role of social media in broadcasting modern status cues. The findings underscore the intersection of consumption choices and social media in shaping contemporary perceptions of status.

Keywords: social status, social rank, physical attractiveness, conspicuous consumption, beautification, cosmetic surgery