ReviewAesthetic surgery journal. Open forum2026
From Nose Job to a Better Job: A Scoping Review of Facial Aesthetics, Attractiveness Bias, and Outcomes in the Workplace.
Review in Aesthetic surgery journal. Open forum, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Facial appearance strongly influences professional and social outcomes, with individuals perceived as more attractive often receiving increased job opportunities-a phenomenon known as "attractiveness bias." As facial plastic surgery becomes increasingly common, its potential impact on workplace dynamics and ethics warrants evaluation. This scoping review synthesizes current evidence examining the relationship between facial aesthetic surgery, attractiveness bias, psychosocial outcomes, and professional trajectories. A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE database via PubMed, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and PsycINFO was conducted (inception-September 10, 2025) according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Controlled vocabulary (MeSH) and free-text terms related to facial aesthetic surgery, career outcomes, and attractiveness bias were combined. Studies were included if they examined surgical facial aesthetic or reconstructive procedures and assessed self-perception, attractiveness bias, professional or socioeconomic outcomes, or appearance-related psychological distress. Sixty-one studies met inclusion criteria and were synthesized qualitatively into 3 conceptual domains. Across studies, facial aesthetic surgery consistently enhanced both self-perception and external evaluations. Postoperative images were rated as more attractive, trustworthy, competent, and intelligent than preoperative images. Patients reported improved self-esteem and social functioning, with several studies identifying career advancement as a key motivator. In contrast, individuals with facial trauma, congenital malformations, or features diverging from cultural beauty norms reported discrimination and lower levels of overall satisfaction. Rates of body dysmorphic disorder among surgical candidates ranged from 2.5% to 32%. Facial aesthetic surgery may influence professional outcomes by modifying self-confidence and how others perceive competence. Plastic surgeons should recognize workplace-related motivations during consultation and incorporate ethical counseling to ensure informed decision-making. Further longitudinal research is needed to clarify whether cosmetic enhancement leads to tangible increased earnings.
Identifiers
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.