Altering first impressions after facial plastic surgery.
BACKGROUND
First impressions are greatly influenced by facial appearance. Clinical data from psychiatric medicine overwhelming indicate that attractive individuals receive better judgment, treatment and behavior [1,2,10]. This study aimed to determine whether cosmetic alteration of facial features projects a better first impression.


METHODS
Random reviewers were asked independently to grade standardized preoperative and postoperative photographs of patients who underwent facial plastic surgery. The reviewers were blinded to the pre- or postoperative status of the photograph. The questions posed to the reviewers were based on first-impression studies used in the past.


RESULTS
The findings indicate that postoperative cosmetic surgery patients were graded as 31% more attractive, 27% better in social skills, 22% more successful in dating, 19% better in athletic skills, 15% better in relationship skills, and 13% more financially successful.


CONCLUSIONS
Facial cosmetic surgery can improve the first impression an individual creates.
Dayan
Steven
S
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2913 Commonwealth Street, Suite 430, Chicago, IL 60657, U.S.A. Docdayan@aol.com
Clark
Kirk
K
Ho
Allan A
AA
D019882:Blepharoplasty; D004954:Esthetics; D005145:Face / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010781:Photography; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012225:Rhinoplasty; D015361:Rhytidoplasty; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors