Does Being Attractive Matter?
April 18th, 2011
Everyone can point to someone that is confident and successful despite or perhaps unrelated to his or her looks. However, for those wanting to stay competitive in a youthful industry, like Hollywood, success appears to be firmly linked with physical appearance. How about for the rest of us?
Many of my patients describe concerns about specific facial features as, “seeming out of sync,†but they are not quite able to pinpoint why. It is generally accepted that facial symmetry correlates to attractiveness, as do perceptions of youth and health. The rationale behind symmetry preference in both humans and animals is that symmetric individuals rate a higher mate-value. Scientists believe that this symmetry is equated with a stronger immune system, indicating more robust genes and a better likelihood that offspring will survive. This theory is supported by research showing that standards of attractiveness are similar across all cultures. Does being attractive still really matter today?
Gordon Patzer tackles the question. He is a former Dean at Roosevelt University in Chicago and well-known researcher in the study of cultural bias based on physical appearance. Patzer calls his theory the Physical Attractiveness Phenomenon or “lookism.†Lookism is basically the behavior of treating people differently based solely on their level of physical attractiveness. Lookism can create an unfair advantage, often with a negative affect for those being judged harshly. As a plastic surgeon, I see the issue from both sides. When patients describe concerns about specific facial features seeming out of sync, asymmetry is often the cause, but sometimes patients are just bothered by changes due to aging. General attractiveness concerns that top this list include crooked noses, droopy jowls and baggy eyes.
Part 2 continued tomorrow.
Facelift: What’s in a Name?
March 15th, 2011
What’s in a name? I find it interesting that new terms used for cosmetic surgery procedures may often gloss over the seriousness of the surgery. The current euphemisms being used for a facelift are prime examples. As a result of this new terminology, I find patients do not want to hear that they need a facelift to correct their jowls or turkey neck. They prefer to hear words like facial rejuvenation, mini-lift, lower facelift, lunch-time lift, short incision facelift, short recovery facelift or better still (my favorite) the non-surgical facelift! A market driven economy has helped to put a happy face on anti-aging procedures, by trivializing this surgery to increase profits.
According to The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, there were about 95,000 performed last year. Regardless of the trendy name, surgery is serious business. There is an element of swelling and bruising after facelift surgery, as with most facial procedures. It is difficult to cover or hide during the initial recovery period. For this reason, many patients choose not to be seen while they are recovering from a facelift. In a culture where youthful beauty is celebrated, few of us want to submit eagerly to the effects of aging. Surprisingly some patients are not self-conscience in the least and continue with all their social engagements.
Facelifts are also combined with many other facial procedures (nose surgery, eyelid surgery, facial implants, chemical and laser peels, and forehead lifts). When procedures are added to a facelift, it increases the amount and duration of swelling following surgery. Combining surgeries also increases risk factors. Because of the additional safety concerns, I strongly discourage patients from combining surgeries in my own practice.
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