A new wrinkle in the rat race

Posted on 07. Jun, 2006 posted by Bill in Employment News

Seasoned professionals are turning to botox injections and other minimally invasive cosmetic procedures to buff up their career prospects.

“I am an executive coach, and I know that when you are more attractive, others talk to you more," said Fay Mandell , 61, of Pawtucket, R.I., who gets botox injections every four months. “So, I recommend cosmetic procedures to the business people and executives I coach."

Dr. Leonard Miller , a plastic surgeon who teaches at Harvard Medical School , said career pressures are a key reason why such procedures have increased dramatically over the past five years. “People want to stay competitive," he said. “So, we’re seeing business people who are in their 40s, 50s, 60s."

TV shows like ABC’s “Extreme Makeover " and FX’s “Nip/Tuck " have helped make cosmetic restructuring more acceptable to the general public. A recent Monster.com survey of 21,552 online visitors found that 53 percent believed that cosmetic procedures such as dental veneers or plastic surgery would enhance their careers.

Older professionals who might shy away from extensive surgeries with lengthy recovery times are turning to minimally invasive or nonsurgical procedures to lift sagging skin, remove under-eye bags, and plump up laugh lines to help them hunt for jobs or compete at work.

The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reports that in 2005, the number of male patients seeking nonsurgical or minimally invasive procedures had risen 60 percent since 2000. The number of female patients rose 30 percent.

Paula Hollywood , 51, of Arlington, said she was “better received" as a market researcher after she spent $1,200 on porcelain veneers three years ago.

“I actually had people I work with tell me how ugly my teeth were," Hollywood said. “I went to a trade show, and people I hadn’t seen for awhile kept telling me I looked terrific. Before I had a tendency not to smile when I had my picture taken, but now I feel great."

In 2005, minimally invasive cosmetic procedures were performed on 8.4 million people, a 52 percent increase over 2000, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons . Last year, 3.8 million people had botox injections, 1 million underwent chemical peels, and more than 800,000 were candidates for microdermabrasion. The number of plastic surgeries grew by just 5 percent over the same period.

Patients are attracted to the less invasive procedures because they are quick, require shorter recovery times, and are less expensive, said Dr. Zachary Gerut, a New York plastic surgeon who specializes in a quick-turnaround face lift. Face lifts range from $8,000 to $18,000, depending on the work done, he said. Fees for cosmetic enhancements such as microdermabrasion, by contrast, can cost just a few hundred dollars.

“I see many patients who are doing this because they want to better compete in the workplace," said Gerut. “People in sales, for example, say they need to look the part. I had a woman who was in her 50s and selling band equipment, but people would come in to the store and move to the younger sales people."

Decorative artist Jeremiah A. Sullivan , 42, of Boston, said botox injections smoothed worry lines in his forehead and removed the crow’s feet around his eyes. “I felt I was just a little too young to get those lines," he said. “To me, it’s maintenance. Also, appearance is important in business."

Architect Donald Hopkins , 61, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., underwent surgery performed by Gerut in November to get rid of a “turkey neck." The procedure “took 10 years off me," said Hopkins, who was back at work a day and a half later.

“My reasons for doing it were ego and wanting to present a younger appearance to clients," Hopkins said. “Clients want people who are experienced, but do not look old."

Kathleen Woodward , author of the book “Aging and Its Discontents ," said baby boomers are vulnerable to the suggestion that a shot of botox or a mini face lift will make them more attractive to recruiters because they are often confronted with ageism.

“People know that when they go on an interview, they must project a sense of vitality," said Woodward. “They know they will be judged by people who are younger, and that is making them more likely to adopt these types of cosmetic procedures."

But some observers are critical of the trend. Virginia Blum , author of “Flesh Wounds: The Culture of Cosmetic Surgery ," attributes the increase in such procedures to plastic surgeons themselves. By creating affordable “quick fixes," she said, they are able to target individuals who normally couldn’t afford to purchase a full face lift, but might spend $1,000 to $9,000 on dental veneers, mini-lifts, and a range of other less invasive procedures.

“Plastic surgeons are selling these small interventions to make more profits and increase their patient base," she said. “But people are going to age. It is fiction that you can defend against it. You can’t."

EmploymentDigest.net

A new wrinkle in the rat race

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