In 2010, Bloomburg Businessweek reported possible improvements in the MBA job market. After a time when fewer employers transferred student internship positions into full-time employment, a bright spot appeared on the horizon. As of February 2010, 34 percent of schools reported increases in full-time job postings. To stand out during the interview process, some unemployed job-seekers started opting for cosmetic surgery. In San Diego, an area hit hard by the rocky economy, the unemployed made up over 15 percent of one plastic surgeon’s client base.

ABC News reported that a disproportionate number of people over the age of 45 have experienced long-term unemployment. Many older job-seekers feel businesses are seeking younger, visually appealing employees to attract customers during a highly competitive economic climate. In order to stay afloat, many of the unemployed find themselves discussing options with plastic surgeons.

Highly requested procedures include facelift procedures, breast implants, even an eyelift. In the United States nearly 113,000 facelifts were performed in 2010, a five percent increase from previous years. Breast implants were the most commonly performed procedure, with 296,000 women going under the knife.

Increased job prospects do not come cheap. Depending on location and surgeon experience, breast implants cost between $5,000 and $10,000. Mini-facelifts, where the lower two-thirds of the face are affected, cost between $3,500 and $6,500. Eye lift cost start at $1,800. All prices are as of June 2011.

Not every procedure requires the knife. A chemical peel or botox cream reduces fine lines and wrinkles, giving skin a smoother and more youthful appearance. Over-the-counter products are available but the most effective products are used under the supervision of a Botox surgeon.

Surgeons are cashing in on the popularity of plastic surgery among the unemployed. A salon in Washington, D.C. offered free Botox injections to job-seekers. Many questioned motives behind the offer, but turnout was enormous. Some surgeons are questioning if it is a wise choice for people with limited disposable income to undergo procedures requiring ongoing, expensive maintenance.

Employers are responding well to the trend. Candidates previously viewed as being older and lacking vitality now seem hip and trendy to interviewers. Positive feedback, but it is unknown if the perceptual change is based on the procedure itself or because the candidate displays more confidence post-procedure. Many surgeons now compare situations of the unemployed receiving plastic surgery to kitchen renovation before selling a home: ultimately the outward appearance is what makes a buyer fall in love with the property.

When considering a cosmetic procedure, even something non-invasive like botox cream or an eyelift, talk with a variety of plastic surgeons. With so many requesting procedures, surgeons have streamlined the process. Services are provided in an office setting, rather than a hospital. All prices, including eye lift cost, are cheaper when surgery is performed in an office. Patients have minimal downtime and quick recovery times.