Once-balding men who undergo hair transplants are seen as more youthful, attractive, successful and approachable, new research suggests.

In 2014, hair transplant was among the most common cosmetic services sought by men, with more than 11, 000 procedures performed, according to information cited in the study.

Researchers surveyed 122 people (about 48 percent of whom were men) and participants were asked to rate 13 pairs of images. Seven men in the pictures had hair transplant and six men who did not have hair restoration served as controls for comparison. Observers rated men’s age (in number of years younger), attractiveness, successfulness, and approachability.

In every area, men who'd undergone hair restoration scored significantly higher.  The study appears in the Aug. 25 online edition of JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery. 

“These findings are relevant in building an evidence-based body of literature surrounding the efficacy of hair transplant in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia,” the authors conclude.

Limitations of the study include its small population and study design.