Cosmetic Surgery on the Rise as the Economy Improves
Now that the economy is slowly recovering, the number of plastic surgery procedures is on the rise as well. In 2010, over 13 million Americans had cosmetic surgery performed on them, up 5 percent from the year before. As American Society of Plastic Surgeons President Dr. Phillip Haeck stated: ‘The economy is showing signs of improvement and, financially, things are a little better for people this year. As the aging population continues to grow, people are investing in plastic surgery procedures to help stay competitive in the workplace.’
During the height of the recession, plastic surgeons took a bigger hit than most industries. Dr. Jason Diamond explained that some surgeons’ business was down 50 percent, and they really struggled not to go out of business.
One area of plastic surgery that was never affected by the economy was injectables. Botox, used by many famous celebrities, remains a strong seller – over 11 million injections in 2010, up 12 percent from the year before. As Dr. Haeck explained: ‘Fat injections are up 14 percent…a patient’s own fat is being used in more creative ways to rejuvenate the face and body.’
Many people waited until the economy started to recover. Vicki Benko, 51, wanted to see how the layoffs were going to go at her company before getting the surgery done. She had a brow lift and had her upper and lower eyelids tightened, and is very happy with the results. ‘I look more rested, I look more energetic. It was a good investment’, she said.
There is also a rise in excess skin removal because of all the people who have lost weight in the last couple of years. Breast lifts, thigh lifts, upper arm lifts and lower body lifts are all more common now that the economy is starting to improve.
Elective cosmetic surgery is not the only kind of plastic surgery on the rise; people who have been injured are also getting reconstructive surgery more often — this sector has risen 2 percent.
As the economy improves, there is no doubt that all types of cosmetic and plastic surgery will continue to get more popular. Affordability is very important when it comes to elective surgery.
It’s interesting to see that Botox and other injectables never ceased to have demand. With an ailing economy, I guess it’s no surprise that people will seek cheaper alternatives to give them a boost. The problem, however, is that there is a risk that people will often opt to have work done with clinics that may not be regulated, or have a shady past history. My advice would be to make sure you know who you’re dealing with and be confident that they are investing in the latest technologies- like Ashtead Hospital, for example, in the UK (www.ashteadhospital.co.uk). They were great when I went in for a nose operation, and I felt that my care was their number one priority. The price was affordable, and the after care I received was second to none.
Comment by A. Smith — November 7, 2011 @ 11:52 am