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Abstract
The increasing emphasis on physical appearance in contemporary society has broadened interest in aesthetic procedures and intensified discussions about their effects on mental health. In this context, aesthetics ceases to represent only a dimension related to beauty and begins to integrate aspects involving self-esteem, self-image, social belonging, and quality of life. This study aimed to analyze the psychosocial impacts of appearance care on mental health, considering both the benefits resulting from aesthetic interventions and the risks associated with the internalization of idealized body standards. This is a bibliographic research, with a qualitative approach, developed from the analysis of scientific articles published between 2020 and 2025 in the SciELO, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases. The analyzed studies show that aesthetic procedures performed ethically, safely, and based on realistic expectations can favor the strengthening of self-esteem, self-confidence, and psychological well-being. However, they also demonstrate that the influence of social media, image culture, and socially imposed aesthetic standards can trigger body dissatisfaction, anxiety, emotional distress, and disorders related to self-image perception. It is concluded that the work of aesthetics professionals should go beyond the technical dimension, incorporating ethical principles, empathy, active listening, and understanding of the emotional aspects involved in seeking aesthetic procedures. Therefore, the integration of aesthetics and mental health constitutes an important strategy for promoting comprehensive care and quality of life.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Sara Luciana de Andrade, Thiago Inocêncio Trofelli, Alexsandro N. Oliveira, Luís Carlos Bueno, Paulo Henrique Dias Trofelli, Cleber Aparecido Medeiros da Silva, Marilu de Souza Franco, Samira Aparecida Pogianela Alvim, Fábio Caxico de Abreu Júnior