Knowing that Someone Had Facial Plastic Surgery Does Not Modify Perceptions of Attractiveness or Social Attributes

Attractive individuals receive higher ratings on independent social attributes including intelligence, success, and likability. The authors sought to determine whether knowledge that a person in a photograph had facial plastic surgery affects perceptions of attractiveness or social attributes.

US adults were recruited to complete an online survey (Qualtrics respondent distribution system). Demographic information, a cosmetic surgery questionnaire, and a body dysmorphic disorder screening questionnaire were collected. Participants viewed photographs of young, White, male- and female-presenting individuals with above-average attractiveness (selected by Delphi method). Half of the participants were told that the individuals had facial plastic surgery. All participants rated the people presented in photographs in terms of attractiveness and social attributes. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.

A total of 1000 participants (500 female; mean age, 49 years [SD 16.9]) were enrolled. There were no differences between participants in the primed ( n = 500; 250 female) or unprimed groups based on demographics, bias toward cosmetic procedures, or body dysmorphia screen. Ratings of the attractiveness and social attributes of people presented in photographs did not differ between the primed and unprimed groups (all P > 0.13). This held true even for those with negative bias toward cosmetic surgery.

Knowledge that someone had facial plastic surgery does not affect ratings of attractiveness or social attributes.