The first and only time I heard someone say they were going to have cosmetic surgery done in order to better their chances of getting a job was on a television show I was watching.  I laughed it off, but maybe I shouldn’t have.  I found this article on ehow.com  by happenstance and was mildly entertained so I thought I would share it with you:

Cosmetic surgery is being actively considered by more older workers to either help their careers or find a job. Several reasons are driving that statistic, but a tight job market combined with a challenging economy heads the list. If you are considering a face lift or other plastic surgery to help you succeed in your job search – you’re not alone. Thousands of Americans are turning to a cosmetic surgeon to turn back the clock and make them more competitive with younger job candidates. Perhaps the most dramatic type of plastic surgery that you can consider is a total face lift, but that may not be necessary. Recent research provides insight into the small “touch ups” avaiable through cosmetic surgery that provide the most impact. If you are considering investing in plastic surgery to help you find employment, then follow these steps to ensure that you get the most for your money.

First, address only the issues that will help you in your job hunt. A recent Harvard University study focused on how young people evaluated the energy and “alertness” of an older person. The study tracked eye movements as young adults studies a series of photographs of older adults. The purpose of the study was to discover what facial cues young people were using to judge an older face. In short, to address the alertness issue you will gain more results by focusing on eyes than unrelated areas such as hairline or neck.

Second, when you meet with your doctor, narrow the discussion to a targeted area. The results of the study indicated that young adults used the upper eyelid to categorize an older adult. The more the upper eyelid “drooped” or sagged, the less alert and “older” the person on the photograph was viewed.

Finally, if your budget allows, consider secondary areas that provide additional impact to the alertness issue. The eyebrow was a distant second in importance as a yardstick for age determination. The results clearly demonstrate that if the purpose of the plastic surgery is to influence a younger hiring manager then surgery to correct a sagging eyelid will have the most positive impact.