Can plastic surgery make you more likeable or trustworthy?

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WPVI) -- Facial plastic surgery may not just make you look younger.

It could improve what people think of you.

Georgetown University facial surgeon Dr. Michael Reilly asked people to rate before & after photos of his patients for traits like social skills, likeability, attractiveness, and femininity.

The participants didn't know who had surgery.

According to the survey, lower eyelid lifts and facelifts paid the biggest benefits - boosting likeability & attractiveness.

Dr. Reilly says he did the study to get answers to a core question -

"I really wanted to know, are we really accomplishing anything with plastic surgery?" said Dr. Reilly.

"People are playing a lot of money they've earned to make themselves look different," he continued.

"And rather than just being able to tell someone we'll make them look different, I really wanted for my patients to genuinely tell them I can make you look better," he says.

Reilly says facial perceptions aren't a superficial matter, but a part of our evolution and survival tactics.

Our animal instinct, he says, tells us to steer clear of people who make us uncomfortable, and perceived as threatening.