While history has taught us that looks matter for everyone from presidential candidates to the person next door, the economic crisis is forcing many consumers to re-evaluate their cosmetic surgery plans. The results of consumer and plastic surgeon polls are being release in conjunction with Plastic Surgery 2008, the annual scientific meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) at McCormick Place in Chicago October 31st through November 5th.
"It appears more consumers are choosing the less invasive cosmetic procedures, both to give them a boost or to buy time if they need to postpone a more costly invasive surgical procedure because of the economic downturn," says, Richard D'Amico, MD, ASPS president. "We have taken the economic pulse of potential patients and ASPS Member Surgeons, and the results are in."
In March, and then again in October, ASPS conducted identical economic surveys with women considering cosmetic plastic surgery within the next two years.
ASPS Member Surgeons were polled and asked to compare the first six months of 2008 during the economic slowdown to the first six months of 2007. The following percentage of physicians who perform the procedures report:
Overall cosmetic procedures
Surgical cosmetic procedures
Minimally invasive cosmetic procedures
"It is very clear the economy is affecting the demand for surgical cosmetic procedures. We are hearing that from consumers and plastic surgeons," Dr. D'Amico says.
Methodology: The results of the consumer survey are based on a 25 percent response rate of 400 people questioned. The results of the ASPS Member Surgeon survey are based on an 18 percent response rate of 2093 surgeons questioned. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.8 percent.
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Materials provided by American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
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