In a society where the saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover” often doesn’t apply to personal appearances, you may only have a fleeting moment to make a first impression. And after that, to be successful you usually must be seen — and seen well. So if you’re lacking in the self-confidence department because you think your nose isn’t perfect, your years are worthy of a Star Trek Clingon character, or your face looks like you’re carrying the load of the world’s fate — should you just hole up and hope no one notices you?

You could, presumably, if you like the status quo. Or you could argue that true beauty is on the inside — which it is, but if you’re not happy with the outside, how long can you keep up your morale?

Port Orchard resident Dianne Tolan, a mother of four who was working two jobs, says she’s dreamed of one thing ever since she was a child: to have beautiful teeth. With discolored, crooked and unevenly spaced teeth, she was so ashamed of her mouth that not only did she not smile much, she avoided anything that involved opening it in public — group presentations or basics like eating at restaurants were torture.

These days, Tolan is smiling a lot. After winning a contest organized by Bainbridge Island dentist Omer Anisso, Tolan has a beautiful smile and a brand new outlook at life.

“I have been called just about every bad tooth name you can imagine, from Buck to Pumpkin Mouth to Witchy Witch….I know I have purposefully excluded myself from many activities throughout my life because of my insecurities and my appearance and I know my appearance has lessened my changes for advancement in the workforce,” Tolan wrote in her essay for the contest called “Perfect Smiles Across America,” which Doctor Anisso said will become an annual event at his practice. He is spreading the word around the state and hoping to do the same across the country, encouraging other dentists to hold similar makeover contests.

“Every year more and more people are having cosmetic procedures done because they become more educated. They thought you can only do it in Hollywood and that you only had a few choices in the country… and now they can come in with an unattractive smile and within three hours they walk out literally with a Julia Roberts smile,” Anisso said.

Inspired by the television show “Extreme Makeover,” Anisso wanted to choose one person for a dramatic change. “The effect was immediate, I felt like a whole new person,” Tolan said.

She no longer needs to look at the magazine photo of her dream smile that’s been hanging in her office for years. She just looks in the mirror. But the ceramic crowns she got were just the beginning of her new self. With the help of several Good Samaritans from around the Kitsap, she got a new outfit from head to toe and an extensive salon pampering including new hairstyle, massage and facial. Gone with the “horrid teeth” is her second job that she felt was a security blanket because she was afraid to sell herself with her appearance. She likes to sell Party Lite now because it feels so good to be in front of people.

Just like Tolan, you can make changes in your life without subjecting your body to extensive work. Forget “Extreme Makeover” on TV — transforming yourself doesn’t mean you need to wear bandages for weeks or lay flat on your back. Simple things like changing your hair, buying a new wardrobe, getting ceramic veneers for your teeth or painless cosmetic procedures on your face can make any man or woman feel rejuvenated, younger or more beautiful.

“A hairstyle can be a start…People tend to hide behind their long hair and you have to look for their best features to enhance their faces instead of hiding them,” said Jeannee Renee Brown of Jeannee Renee’s Salon in Silverdale. “Women sometimes color their hair with home products so it looks washed out; I like to take them back to their natural color and use two to three colors to give them highlights and some dimension.”

Sometimes a new hairstyle is all it takes, but usually Brown moves beyond that, onto makeup, colors and even clothing style. Some women opt for permanent makeup that enhances the eyebrows or the lip line, others have been using the wrong makeup that makes their face look drab because and need to change their color choices.

“You have to go with what the fashion is. It doesn’t mean you have to be risqué but it means you have to be a little more with the times,” she said. Yes, that means you have to let got of those decade-old clothes, look through beauty magazines now and then to see what’s hot, and unless you plan to join a biker group and travel around the world for a long time, you may want to forget the nose piercing and the tattoos.

She recommends men to consider their goals as well. Younger men especially like to follow MTV or other hip styles, but if they are trying to enter the workforce a fad hairstyle or tattoo may not exactly create the best presentation.

For the teeth, one of the easiest things to do is whitening, said Doctor Michael Fisher of Port Orchard. Although you can buy over-the-counter home remedies like whitening strips, they take longer and are not as effective as the dentist-supervised procedure that uses a custom tray and can get rid of the stubborn coffee or cigarette stains. “It doesn’t damage the enamel or make the teeth more sensitive,” he said.

Once the teeth are whitened, Fisher said you can consider replacing old dentistry that has stained fillings, get jagged teeth edges softened, enhance the appearance of the gum so it looks more even or fill spaces between teeth with resin bonding. “Sometimes people feel discouraged if they have bad front teeth, and they tend to ignore the others,” he said. That could become a problem beyond aesthetics.

With a new hairstyle and good-looking teeth, don’t forget about your face. Botox and collagen have been popular for a while, and earlier this year a new injection procedure was approved, Restylane. While Botox enhancements usually last about three months, Restylane’s effect goes on for six to nine.

“There are things that can be done at lunchtime and you can go right back to work, and the effect is immediate,” said Dr. Derek Boyden with Olympic Surgical Associates, which has offices in Port Orchard. Younger people even choose the treatments as a way to prevent wrinkles, and men are often equally interested in rejuvenating their skin.

Laser hair reduction takes a few trips and causes temporary pain, but having a clean face is definitely worth it. Freckles and moles removal, vein or scar reduction — there are hardly any limits to what modern cosmetic procedures can do. There are literally hundreds of choices, and the best way to start may be to have a consultation with a dermatologist who can help you navigate through the options.

“The results can be phenomenal,” Boyden said. “What’s most remarkable is seeing some patients come back whose whole lives have been changed... It’s very gratifying for the patients and for us to see those transformations.”

If by now you’re looking for the fine print, thinking all this sounds too good to be true, here is the full disclosure: Simple doesn’t always mean cheap, especially since most cosmetic procedures are not covered by insurance. But while it may be tempting to spend the money on other pleasures, there is no better investment than the one in yourself. And once you start feeling good and confident about how the world sees you, there is no telling what miracles may come next.