The recession has sparked an increase in the number of middle-aged workers undergoing cosmetic procedures to give themselves an edge career-wise. Although age discrimination is illegal, the unemployed workers among the Baby Boomer generation are still feeling its bite.
Boomers are seeing employers pass over them in favor of their younger counterparts. Consequently, some are seeking out plastic surgeons in an effort to regain a little of what time took, with the hope that it will translate into more job opportunities. And while many of these people do want to look younger, their primary goal is to remain natural but look less tired.
In a culture that idealizes youth and beauty, women have always been under tremendous pressure to look forever young in order to be competitive in the workplace. But surprisingly, this trend for career-boosting cosmetic surgery crosses gender lines. With the stigma for plastic surgery decreasing for men, the older male workforce is beginning to turn to surgery to stay relevant to employers.
Furthermore, cosmetic surgery for employment purposes is not just restricted to the US, but is in fact widespread across Asia. As western ideals for physical attractiveness have bled into Asian countries such as South Korea, European facial features have become increasingly desirable. This has resulted in heighten expectations in the workplace for employees to lessen or eliminate Asian physical characteristics.
Attitude can play a significant role where job-related cosmetic procedures are concerned, because a person’s confidence is often tied to his or her physical appearance. Confidence is a highly sought-after trait in the workplace, so if potential employees feel more confident about their looks, this attitude alone could itself contribute to successfully landing them a job or securing a promotion.