Can cosmetic surgery help you get a payrise? New research from the University of Texas shows that good looks may play a part in your pay.

According to the study, people with ‘below-average looks’ suffer from a pay penalty whilst those who are deemed to have ‘better-than-average looks’ receive a pay premium. The study factored in variables such as education and experience and concluded that those with below-average looks earned 9 percent less than those with average looks, whilst those with better-than-average looks earned 5 percent more.

With plastic surgery becoming less of a taboo, dressing for success is no longer enough – many people are acting on their perceived flaws and are heading under the knife. Since 2000, there has been a 27 percent increase in cosmetic procedures in the US, and it’s not just women either more and more men are succumbing to the temptation of having cosmetic surgery.

But perhaps it’s not just the looks themselves that are causing the pay gap many people who have had cosmetic surgery say that they feel more confident and energetic after their procedure. Generally speaking, when people look better, they have more self-confidence and it is this self-confidence that may be a significant contributing factor towards that pay increase, rather than the actual looks themselves.

However, the physical attractiveness of someone cannot be ruled out. Much research has been done which shows that we do judge on appearances and people are often treated differently because of the way they look.

It should also be cautioned that good looks do not always equate to a pay rise or a better career cosmetic surgery is expensive and carries no guarantees of career success. Moreover, having plastic surgery does not mean that you will automatically benefit from the attractiveness pay premium. Often the good looks that are valued the most are those that are natural and look like little effort has gone in. Many people will discount good looks if they feel that too much effort has gone in, therefore if it is obvious that you have undergone a cosmetic surgery procedure, the beauty premium may be cancelled out.