Facial Plastic Surgery in Men Enhances Perception of Attractiveness, Trustworthiness

Posted on July 12, 2019

There is growing acceptance for seeking plastic surgery, as people begin to see it as a means to self-care that deals with their insecurities and boosts their confidence. As such, more men are undergoing facial plastic surgery to achieve a more defined jawline, higher cheekbones or a sharper chin. A recent study published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery found that men who have undergone plastic surgery are not only perceived as more attractive to others, but are also judged to have a better personality.

24 men who sought cosmetic surgery at Georgetown University Medical Centre were recruited for the study, and made changes to one or more parts of their face, including upper eyelid lift, lower eyelid reduction, face-lifts, nose reshaping and chin implants. Photos of them were taken before and after the surgery.

These photos were subsequently used in surveys given to participants who were then told to assess the personality traits of the men based on the photos shown to them. The characteristics include aggressiveness, likeability, trustworthiness and masculinity.

An analysis of the results revealed that the participants judged the patients’ appearances and personalities more positively after their surgeries. Getting a neck-lift or a brow-lift made them seem more extroverted, whereas the upper eyelid surgeries and face-lifts increased their likeability and trustworthiness. Chin augmentation had no effect on the patients’ perceived attractiveness or personality traits. Researchers noted that this could be due to the fact that there were very few patients who underwent the surgery.

Compared to female patients in previous studies who were deemed more feminine after the procedure, the male patients were not perceived as more masculine after their surgery. Therefore, the current procedures to enhance facial features for men are not as gender-enhancing as those for females.

According to the researchers, individuals tend to form impressions of others based on their physical appearances due to our evolutionary roots. For us to know who to avoid and who to work with for the sake of survival, we have to make judgements about people quickly, even if it is only based on how they look. Overall, this study has provided a fascinating insight to how different parts of the face is associated with different personality traits. More research is needed to provide a greater comprehension of the social consequences behind different cosmetic procedures, hence maximizing the benefits of cosmetic surgery.


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Source material from Science Daily