Professor Gemma Sharp

Yes.

There is research to show that people who are more conventionally attractive do tend to earn more money.

They get further ahead in their jobs.

They're more likely to attract partners.

And in the case of someone's appearance... People who are more attractive are perceived to have other positive attributes like being intelligent and things like that.

It's pretty sobering, isn't it?

Yeah, it's a thing.

And I suppose if we think of our evolutionary roots, attractiveness came along with health and ability to reproduce.

So we are hardwired to look for attractiveness.

Exactly right.

And I think, you know, and that's why the cosmetic industry is worth an absolute fortune.

And even during times like the pandemic, it was an industry that was not hit.

In fact, it actually flourished.

So it shows that people will invest in this even in really difficult times.

So these are patients who are considering cosmetic procedures, but their surgeons, their cosmetic practitioners feel they may benefit from extra consultation with a clinical psychologist, mostly to discuss their motivations and their expected outcomes.

I will say that no two people's stories are the same.

And I suppose one particular instance really sticks out to me because it was a male patient and they are a bit less frequent.

And he was interested in a penile augmentation.

And this was a non-surgical penile augmentation.

So basically increasing the girth through filler.