Facial plastic surgery can improve your confidence, but new research suggests it could also make people perceive you as being more likable.
The recent study's researchers said this tendency is not superficial, but actually has evolutionary origins, Georgetown University Medical Center reported.
"Our animal instinct tells us to avoid those who are ill-willed and we know from previous research that personality traits are drawn from an individual's neutral expressions," said Michael J. Reilly, an assistant professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Georgetown University School of Medicine who sees patients at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
The scientists looked at changes in perception that occur after a variety of facial rejuvenation procedures, such as "face lift, upper and lower eye lifts, brow lift, neck lift or chin implant." The study involved photos of 30 Caucasian women before and after surgery and responses to the images provided by 170 participants. The subjects were asked to rate their perception of each woman's attractiveness, femininity, and personality traits. Each reviewer saw either the pre or post-operative photo, but never both. The findings showed women who had plastic surgery were more likely to be rated as having higher "social skills, likeability, attractiveness and femininity."
"Having a facelift and lower eye lift were the two procedures that appeared to garner more favorable reviews after surgery, with the lower eye lift carrying a little more weight," Reilly said.
The researchers noted that in some cases the women who had received plastic surgery were more likely to be perceived as aggressive or risk-taking. They also warned the findings were limited because the study only included Caucasian female subjects.
"It's reasonable to expect that patients would like to know how each surgical procedure could affect others' perceptions of their personality traits. As we gain more specific knowledge about what these changes in perception are, we will be able to improve outcomes for our patients," Reilly concluded.
The findings were published in a recent edition of the journal JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
