Attractiveness
Business and politics can be superficial, even judgmental. Studies show that those with youthful, symmetrical faces are three times more likely to bag an interview or close a deal as compared to those with lopsided, aging faces. A survey conducted by Forbes magazine confirmed that attractive people enjoy a five percent earnings advantage over those deemed unattractive. Making matters worse for unattractive people is that their earning capacity diminishes at an accelerated rate over time while that of attractive people diminishes at a remarkably slower pace.
In politics, a Finnish study found that male and female political candidates who look better than their opponents enjoy a 20% advantage in approval ratings (so long as their opponent is a nonincumbent). In other words, unattractive candidates must work and spend 20% more to equalize the advantage of their better looking political foes.
In a perfect world, looks should not matter. However, we are wired, on a primal level, to favor people who look healthier, younger and better proportioned.
Unfortunately, not all of us have won the genetic lottery. Some are blessed with good looks while others are challenged. We are born with the face we have and we must make the most of it. There are many ways we can increase our level of attractiveness — grooming and appropriate dressing is one way. Good posture and a confident stride is another. Eye contact and a pleasant facial expression help too. But what happens when these are not enough? What are the options available for those born with unfavorable genes and those whose faces are marred with the creases of time?
OLD REMEDIES
I grew up in the 1980s, when facelifts and facial augmentations were becoming increasingly popular. Many of my aunts and uncles were early adaptors, having had numerous procedures done. As a child, I personally witnessed how bloody and painful the process can be. Back then, a facelift involved multiple lacerations on the scalp and around the ears. The skin would be pulled back and held in place by sutures. It took months to heal. If one was lucky, the sutures would fade away over time and appear only as light scars. The unlucky ones would have to live the rest of their lives with keloids or scars that look like centipedes.
I am now the age of my aunts and uncles and my face shows it. Although I am at peace with having jowls like saddlebags and more creases on my face than the fenders of a Lamborghini, I know it is within my power to get rid of them through a medical procedure.
I have ruled out a surgical facelift since I have seen how the scarring can be worse than the jowls and facial lines it sought to remove. It is also invasive, painful and would require too much time to heal. Like most businessmen, I cannot afford to be incapacitated for more than a couple of days.
I was resigned to live with my aging face until a good friend of mine, Melanie Lantin, told me about the latest technologies in aesthetic science. Melanie is the owner of Medicomm Pacific, Inc., the country’s foremost publisher of medical books, magazines and online medical applications. They are the company behind the highly successful Philippine Pharmaceutical Directory, The Filipino Doctor and, soon, the eRX mobile application. This makes her privy to the latest developments in the medical field.
Melanie suggested I look into the Happy Lift and Skinfill technologies.
HAPPY LIFT TECHNOLOGY
I spoke to Riza Magallon, the Marketing Manager of the Menarini Pharmaceutical Group. Menarini is a 130-year-old Italian pharmaceutical company with a footprint in more than 100 countries. Riza recently briefed me about Happy Lift and Skinfill technologies.
In the last thirty years, the advances made in face lift and facial features augmentations have been phenomenal, explained Riza. Cuts and sutures on the scalp and ears are no longer done, making pain, trauma and scarring a non-issue. The technology of today allows you to enjoy the benefits of a full facelift without down time. Best of all, the procedure is so simple that it only takes 30 minutes to do, using local aesthesia while sitting on a chair.