Plastic Surgery Articles

A few weeks ago we wrote about the survey conducted on behalf of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons that projected cosmetic surgery procedures will quadruple between the years 2005 and 2015.  The analysts arrived at their projection by evaluating the detailed statistics that the Society began assembling on an annual basis beginning in 1992.  The stats show the growth of various surgical procedures and the use of non-surgical procedures as new products have been introduced.

The analysis also applied economic and non-economic factors to predict the growth of plastic surgery.  One of their key findings is that the price structure for cosmetic procedures both surgical and non-surgical has brought the industry within reach of the vast American middle class.  There is also a sociological factor to the projections, which assume that cosmetic procedures will continue to enjoy increased normalization as a personal choice for members of the population at large.  In short, cosmetic surgery is much more affordable and many more people are going to look on it as a viable personal improvement option.

One of the clear indicators that cosmetic plastic surgery has reached the middle class is the fact that many if not most board certified plastic surgeons offer payment plans for their services.  Plastic surgeons have come to realize that health insurance is never going to cover cosmetic surgery and have developed other options for their patients. 

Financing for a cosmetic surgical procedure can be arranged through your doctor’s office.  These are unsecured loans that do not require collateral such as a home or car.  Surgeons who do accept financing plans generally provide a percentage of the cost of the procedure (called a discount) to the finance company, in order to help cover the risk.  Generally that figure is between four and ten percent.  While you can construe such an arrangement as adding to your cost, it is also the reason that you can obtain a plastic surgery loan with a fairly reasonable interest rate.

Americans are growing more image conscious; despite the trend toward more casual dress in the business world, appearance is an important professional consideration.  Once you move beyond an entry level position in the corporate world, image is going to be a factor in not only getting a job but retaining it.  While most HR professionals will minimize this issue when asked, the fact is and has always been that appearance matters.  For men, career-related image issues are the second highest reason why they seek cosmetic plastic surgery.  Age has always been a determining factor for women seeking employment; today men are recognizing that turning back the clock physically is important for their careers too.

The ASPS survey foresees a society where cosmetic surgical procedures become less intrusive and more reasonable in cost, and where it becomes a recognized social priority to attempt to boost one’s self esteem.  It also suggests that cosmetic physical improvements will involve non-invasive procedures that will become more effective as the technology continues to develop.

One final data point is the projection of a massive increase in non-surgical cosmetic procedures, based on the fact that between 1992 and 2005 surgical procedures increased at an annualized rate of 7.5% while non-surgical procedures enjoyed an increase of over 27%.  The projection is that by 2015, ASPS member surgeons will be doing surgical procedures on 12% of their patients and non-surgical procedures on 88% of them.  Cosmetic surgical choices will expand and continue to be affordable to increasing numbers of Americans.