Warren B. Seiler III, MD
John Di Saia, MD
Beatriz H. Porras, MD
Shervin Naderi, MD, FACS
Edward Zimmerman MD
Paula Di Marco Young, BS RN
Seth A. Yellin, MD FACS
Dr. Kevin D. Light
Stephen Weber MD PhD
Brian K. Sidella
Sabine Zenker, MD
Daniel Kaufman MD
Brian Howard MD FACS
Mickey A. Couvertier
Lila Bratani MD
Alex Denes MD FACP
2 CommentsPlastic surgery recession vs. vanity?
The economy sucks, discretionary spending is down, and now begin the reports of a plastic surgery recession.
Of course, the talking heads have been wrong before. The press only runs two stories... ever.
How great something is. And then, how we've just found out that what we thought was great really sucks.
Here's an example of a story on the start of a plastic surgery recession via MSNBC:
The bad economy is causing some faces to fall, and Botox is no longer an option for lifting them.
Plastic surgeons are the latest to report their bubble has burst.
The "New York Times" reports fewer tummies are getting tucked and buttock implants have bottomed out.
When the American Society of Plastic Surgeons surveyed its members, some 62-percent reported performing fewer procedures in the first half of this year.
Some purveyors of surgical perfection admitted they're now letting some patients negotiate fees.
Both fashion and medical experts who study the industry agree that austerity is making a comeback.
More people now worry more about mortgage payments than cellulite.
One analyst reported a 30-to-40 percent drop in business in image-obsessed Or ange County, California.
Faces frozen from Botox injections have gone the way of overpriced SUVs, expert say, while wrinkles are the new black
Of course, they may be correct. But, then again, cosmetic plastic surgeons are in the vanity business, and vanity is as constant as the Northern Star.
Now comes word from The Wall Street Journal that plastic surgery is having a recession heyday!
"Vanity appears to be trumping frugality in a looks-conscious society," reads the fist line of a piece titled "Keeping Up Appearances in a Downturn."
It goes on to say that plastic surgeons reported an increased demand this fall for minimally invasive procedures. (O.K., so the two newspapers agree on actual face lifts.)
"Things are so bad [in financial markets] that investments aren't even worthwhile anymore, so people are investing in themselves," the paper quotes an Omaha-based dermatologist, who treats a patient named Maralyn Barr.
Ms. Barr lost her job in June as a district sales manager for bookstore chain Borders Group Inc. She is $140,000 in debt from her 22-year-old daughter's education. She has cut back on eating out and other lavish spending, but not her Restylane and Botox injections. "It's like comfort food," she said.
Huh? Botox and Restylane instead of real food? As I said, vanity is as constant as the Northern Star.
Reader Comments (2)
I wish I could say I was the slightest bit surprised. We've seen a drop of over 45% this year and expect much worse in 2009. Plastic surgery is a luxury and was great when everyone had their HELOC to pay for this type of thing, now it's just not the same anymore.
Business in aesthetic surgery is down at least 50% in Atlanta.