Can a nose job make you appear more successful?
According to a study by Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, yes, it can.
The nose job, or rhinoplasty procedure, is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures in the U.S. Statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show that there were 223,000 nose-reshaping procedures performed in 2016, putting it in the top five most requested plastic surgeries that year.
The rhinoplasty procedure is used to address cosmetic flaws of the nose, like bumps, misshapen nostrils or cartilage, or to resize noses that are out of proportion with the rest of the face. Rhinoplasty can also be used to correct a deviated septum or other physical conditions that may impact a patient’s ability to breathe.
Although the rhinoplasty surgery is common, studies about the impact of the nose surgery are not. The Johns Hopkins study is one of only a few of its kind.
Researchers at the school conducted a web-based survey in which participants viewed before and after images of 13 rhinoplasty patients.
The participants who viewed the images were unaware that the patients had nose surgery. They were instructed to rate the individuals in pictures regarding attractiveness, success and health.
The individuals received higher scores for attractiveness and success after their rhinoplasty procedure. Participants also rated the patients as healthier after their nose surgery, according to the study.
The study did not rate the patients’ self-analysis after their procedure regarding their attractiveness, health or success.
The Impact of Plastic Surgery
The study concluded that patients who undergo rhinoplasty are viewed differently after their procedure by observers. Additional conclusions may mean that plastic surgeons can discuss the benefits of the rhinoplasty procedure and show patients who are on the fence about undergoing surgery tangible advantages to having the procedure.
“Many individuals seek out the rhinoplasty procedure or other plastic surgery procedures but delay pulling the trigger because they are unsure how the procedure will impact their life,” said Dr. Gregory W. Chernoff, F.R.C.S.
Chernoff is a triple-board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon practicing in Indianapolis and Santa Rosa, California.
The reason for the change in the way others view rhinoplasty patients may be the increased level of self-confidence that a change in image can bring.
“When an individual feels good about themselves after their rhinoplasty surgery or other plastic or cosmetic procedure, they usually carry themselves with increased confidence. In many cases, this boost in confidence is noticeable by other people, and as a result, others see the patient in a different light,” Chernoff said.
The rhinoplasty study is not Johns Hopkins’ first foray into studying how cosmetic surgery impacts how others see patients.
In 2017, the university conducted another study that examined the impact of the face-lift procedure on patients regarding their level of attractiveness, age, health and success.
The face-lift study used the before and after images of 13 face-lift patients.
On average, the women were rated four years younger after their face-lift. The participants also deemed the women more successful and likely to have more friends and be more successful socially.
Participants who rated the images during the face-lift study also determined that the women appeared 16 percent healthier and 10 percent more successful in their career after their face-lift procedure.
The women were also deemed more likely to get out of traffic tickets, be elected to public office and win court judgments after their surgery than their before-surgery images.
Sources:
The JAMA Network Journals. “Does rhinoplasty change perceptions of attractiveness, success, health?.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 19 October 2017.
People Bodies (online). Women Who Undergo Facelifts are Perceived as More Attractive, Healthy and Successful, Study Says. March 2017.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Plastic Surgery Statistics 2016.
