CHICAGO, Oct. 3, 2008
As Economy Sags, Faces Do Too, Doctors Say
Amid Tough Financial Times, Would-Be Surgery Patients Opt Against Costly Nips And Tucks
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In this photo released by the Advanced Centre for Plastic Surgery cosmetic surgeon Dr. James A. Matas works with a patient on Aug. 6, 2008, in Orlando, Fla. Matas and other cosmetic surgeons say people are getting fewer costly cosmetic procedures because of the economy's nosedive. (AP Photo)
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Anecdotal reports and a recent unscientific survey from an industry trade group suggest many cosmetic surgeons have been seeing a drop-off in costly operations, some by as much as 30 percent or more.
Diane Lawyer, a software company manager in Atlanta, said belt-tightening has made her put off getting her eyes done, a procedure that would cost a few thousand dollars.
"I just can't justify that right now," she said.
Lawyer, 55, has started shopping at a discount grocery, rarely drives to save on gas, and loaned money to help keep her sister out of foreclosure.
"I lost $15,000 in the last two weeks on the stock exchange," she said, referring to her dwindling 401K plan.
Dr. Alan Gold, president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, said that for the past year, sagging business has been the talk of cosmetic surgeons.
"Everybody talks about it, nobody really has any numbers, so we polled our membership," said Gold, whose suburban New York office is on Long Island.
Of about 700 doctors who responded to the April-May questionnaire, 53 percent said business is down, some by as much as 30 percent.
Dr. Patrick McMenamin, president-elect of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, said he's in regular contact with cosmetic surgeons who complain that business continued to slide through the summer - even before Wall Street's recent nosedive.
"With this latest fiasco, many are probably down closer to 40 percent," said McMenamin, a Sacramento, Calif., cosmetic surgeon who specializes in faces, breasts and liposuction.
For him, August "was terrible. I just did a lot less surgery."
September's always a slow month for cosmetic surgery, he said, so the economy's impact was less palpable. "I have no idea where October is going."
To attract patients, "We've reworked our mailing list and Web site, all facets of the business," McMenamin said. He hasn't lowered prices for procedures but says some doctors have.
While surgeries are down, McMenamin said he's noticed an uptick in cheaper, less invasive options, including Botox injections and wrinkle fillers. So instead of shelling out $7,000 for a facelift, patients spend $1,000 for less dramatic results.
However, many Botox and filler patients are waiting longer than the usual three to four months between treatments, said Dr. Robert Singer of La Jolla, Calif.
Singer was reluctant to quantify the drop in his business, but said any cosmetic surgeon claiming business is great "is spinning and marketing."
"There's no question about it" that cosmetic surgeons around the country are feeling the pinch, said Dr. Edward Lack, who works in Chicago's tony northern suburbs.
"We're doing less invasive things and things that are less expensive," Lack said.
And some who invested in office upgrades are worried. Cosmetic specialist Dr. Jim Matas of Orlando, Fla., said he took out a $100,000 mortgage last year to plushly renovate his condo-office. He's been able to make the payments, but notes, "I still have that as an overhead cost that I didn't have" before the economy's big slide.
Orlando real estate appraiser David Ritter has been considering getting a $6,400 forehead lift from Matas. But Ritter was recently laid off and said he can only afford the surgery if he gets a sizable severance package.
"It's a double-edged sword," he said. "I need to do this because I'm 45 and competing with younger people" in a tough market.
Reliant in the past on Botox and wrinkle fillers, he feels pressure to look more youthful. "I always say it's better to look good than to feel good, sometimes," Ritter said.
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"It''s a double-edged sword," he said. "I need to do this because I''m 45 and competing with younger people" in a tough market.
Reliant in the past on Botox and wrinkle fillers, he feels pressure to look more youthful. "I always say it''s better to look good than to feel good, sometimes," Ritter said.
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45?? That is one the dumbest things I''ve ever heard. You should be RULING the young kids, not fearing them. JEEEZUS!
Better to Look better than to FEEL better? Holy moly.
I feel sorry for you.
Posted by easeup at 09:29 PM
For you? I''m sure it would be cheap, especially if they charge by the millimeter.
Who cares about these self-centered a.hol.es anyway? Crazy, pathetic Americans. What a shame.
Why can''t we all listen to the spin doctors on O''Reilly and realize that the headline should be:
''As Faces Sag, Economy Does Too, Doctors say''
Come ON, people. Give it your best ''Horatio Alger'' effort: LIFT THAT FACE!!!
Your country needs you!! LOL...
Only in America, friends, would a DROP in plastic surgery (of all things) make the NEWS!
HAAHAHAHAHAHAHA
GO AHEAD AND CRY ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO GET YOUR EYES ''DONE'' OR YOUR FOREHEAD ''LIFT'' WHILE THE REST OF AMERICA STRUGGLES WITH GAS PRICES, PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR OUR CHILDREN, CLOTHING, HEATING AND COOLING COSTS, ETC.
Crybabies. Shut UP!
You are right, but this is good news. Good news for the middle class who pays 95+% of the taxes, good news for the middle class who supports the people who don''t even bother to want to work but keep churning out babies one after another, good news for the middle class who has to support (why? I don''t understand) medical benefits and social welfare programs for illegal immigrants, and good news for the middle class whose labors are completely responsible for millions upon millions of CEO pay which we don''t agree to support, and then these people run their companies into the ground and leave with golden parachutes of millions more in ''severance.''
This is good news for those of us who really keep the economy moving to be able to see we''re not the only ones feeling the pain, even if it only means taking eyelifts from the elitists. Its a start.
Posted by onemoretim
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But liposuction is dropping...
Posted by krisd99
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Hopefully not prod a cattle back into the corral...
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by incog-nito
October 6, 2008 10:40 PM EDT
- I was thinking about a peni$ reduction, but now I don''t think it''s in the budget.
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Reply to this comment
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See all 15 CommentsPosted by easeup at 09:29 PM : Oct 03, 2008
How will you complete your s*x change transformation then?