Restylane boosts people's first impression

Nov 10 2010

A recent study demonstrating that the treatment of nasolabial folds with Restylane positively influences the first impression that an individual projects was published by Dr. Steven Dayan (www.drdayan.com) and DeNova research in the November 2010 issue of Dermatologic Surgery, a leading Dermatology journal. In a study 20 patients received Restylane the popular hyaluronic filler to fill in the nasolabial folds which run from the side of the nose to the side of the mouth. Three months post treatment, study participants received a significantly higher first impression rating, including social skills; academic performance; attractiveness; success in dating, career performance, finance, athletics and relationships; leading to a more positive total on overall first impression.

After the patients were treated, standardized before and after photos were then randomized to multiple book binders. The random binders were then reviewed by over 300 unknowing observers who were asked to make quick first impression judgments of the people in the photograph purely based on appearance. The judging observers did not know any treatment was performed. They never saw the same person's photo more than once. In total over 5,000 first impressions were recorded making this one of the largest and most substantial first impression studies completed to date.

Findings revealed that the after treatment photos of the patients four weeks following filler placed into their smile lines were rated to be more attractive, socially successful as well as better at dating and in relationships. They were also judged to be academically superior and more successful athletically, financially and in the workplace. Overall they were judged to just make a better first impression.

"These findings support what we have all thought anecdotally for some time now and may be one of the reasons we are seeing so many more people coming in requesting cosmetic treatments prior to a job interview," says, lead investigator Steven H. Dayan, MD, FACS, Chicago Center for Facial Plastic Surgery, Clinical Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at University of Illinois at Chicago, Adjunct Professor at DePaul University.  "Making a more positive first impression can be critical to landing a new job."

You only get one chance to make a first impression and an individual's facial appearance has a profound influence on how he or she is first perceived by another person. The data shows that Restylane has the potential for transformative results that significantly boost this first impression.