How were female patients perceived after face-lift surgery?

Face-lift surgery is among the most common facial cosmetic procedures performed. Lisa Ishii, M.D., M.H.S., of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and coauthors conducted a web-based survey of casual observers who were shown photographs of female patients who had face-lifts to assess perceptions of age, attractiveness, success and health.

Photographs of 13 female patient faces did not indicate surgical status so observers did not know if a photo was taken before or after face-lift. No more than one photo of the same patient was included in surveys.

Images of patients after face-lift surgery were rated as younger, more attractive, more successful and healthier in this survey of 483 observers, according to the results. The study has limitations, including that photographs of only 13 female patients were included.