Many of us recently made resolutions to transform into better versions of ourselves in 2009: lose weight, pay off debt, or reduce stress at work. And some are willing to go to great lengths to achieve a physical image of perfection. Despite the faltering economy, the popularity of plastic surgery continues to grow, both nationally and locally, and young professionals are still going under the knife.
Nearly 11.7 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States in 2007, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), resulting in a $13.2 billion injection into the cosmetic industry.
UW Health’s Dr. Benjamin Marcus, a specialist in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, says his practice alone is up 25-35% over where it was last year in terms of cash and collection, and he’s not exactly surprised. “I think the Madison economy is more insulated to major disruptions,” he explains. “I think people here tend to be better savers and live within their means. I’m not seeing patients who want to have surgery and are willing to take on debt to do it. A vast majority of our patients are aware of the financial costs and plan accordingly.”
Men have also made an impact on the rising national statistics. The ASAPS indicates that the number of cosmetic procedures performed on men increased 17% in the past year. In the past decade, surgical procedures for men have increased 3%, while nonsurgical procedures have increased 886%.
While Dr. Marcus’ practice isn’t seeing a marked upswing in the number of men electing cosmetic procedures, another area practice is seeing the national trends firsthand. Dr. Richard Parfitt of Facial Plastics in Middleton elaborates, “Twelve years ago, men only were 10% [of my clients] and that’s crept up to 20% or so.”
Reasons for this are speculative and may be loosely tied to the economy — especially outside of the Madison area. Dr. Marcus says, “With the economy, sometimes professionals feel to keep a job, they must stay young and appear vigorous, but I don’t see it here. It’s different than what I hear from my colleagues on the East and West coasts who tell me that men come in and want to do procedures to make them appear more vital for their jobs…rather than personal vanity.”
But procedures certainly aren’t limited to an aging population. Young professionals have become interested in minimally invasive treatments such as laser resurfacing or Botox to achieve a fresh appearance. Dr. Marcus explains, “There are more young professionals willing to engage in services because the downtime and risk is much less than it was five years ago — and this is in part to new technology. For example, young attorneys can have laser treatments done on Friday and be back to the office on Monday. Even a few years ago that wasn’t true.”
Of course, with any cosmetic surgical or non-surgical procedure, the most important thing for anyone considering plastic surgery is to educate themselves. “Unfortunately,” says Dr. Parfitt, “in this economic atmosphere, some clinics use the latest technology to draw in clients, and these [procedures] are not tested enough.”
Be sure to do your research on the reputation of your chosen doctor and procedures. Unlike a failed diet or broken budget, a slip in cosmetic surgery could last a lifetime.
