Recession Affects Plastic Surgery Profits

What Does That Mean for Surgeons?

Thanks to the economy, people aren't attacking their wrinkles and saggy parts as often as they used to. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the number of cosmetic procedures performed in 2009 slid by 2%-- and surgical procedures alone fell 17%.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery surveyed 928 board-certified physicians before presenting their findings.

"People just couldn't go for the big items," said Renato Saltz, the association's president.

The 17% drop in surgical procedures was explained by the prohibitive cost to some consumers with lowered incomes after economic fluctuations. In addition, the surgical procedures take longer from which to recover.

Phil Haeck, president-elect of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, said that most people are delaying surgeries because of work. "Job priority is number one, cosmetic surgery is number two," he said.

Although the recession affected cosmetic surgery in general, we also got a peek at the most popular procedures. Breast augmentation was the most popular procedure performed, while liposuction took up second place. Nonsurgical procedures were reported as "flat," while butt lifts and augmentations enjoyed a surge in popularity.

I have a feeling that cosmetic procedures will enjoy renewed popularity as soon as we all have more cash... do you agree?