Beauty isn’t only skin deep. That’s the latest word from researchers who say cosmetic surgery can make women look more likable, socially adept, and feminine.

Women in the study who underwent facial rejuvenation — involving improvements to the face, upper and lower eye, brow and neck lifts and chin implants — were rated more positively by strangers on several personality traits, the LiveScience Website reported.

Lead researcher Michael Reilly, M.D., a reconstructive and facial plastic surgeon at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., said it is unclear exactly which aspects of the procedures contributed most to the positive ratings.

For the study, Reilly and his colleagues collected pictures of 30 women, before and after facial rejuvenation. The team then asked 170 strangers to look at pictures and rate the women on overall attractiveness, femininity, social skills, extroversion, and aggression.

The results showed the respondents rated women after facial rejuvenation as more attractive, more feminine, more sociable and more likable.

The study did not determine if the same effect was true for men who go under the knife.