Cosmetic Surgeries Get a Little Nip and Tuck

"Cosmetic surgery wasn’t as popular in 2009 as it used to be, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which annually surveys its members as well as dermatologists and ear-nose-and-throat doctors.

Such procedures, including nose jobs, eyelid surgeries, liposuction, tummy tucks and breast augmentations, fell in number by nearly 9 percent in 2009, the society reported Tuesday, to 1,521,409 from 1,669,026 in 2008. Nose jobs and eyelid surgery fell 8 percent among the 715 doctors who answered the survey, while liposuction was down a whopping 19 percent. Tummy tucks and breast augmentations declined 5 percent and 6 percent, respectively.

Pocketbook issues may be the story behind the numbers — an operation like a tummy tuck costs on average $4,936, excluding the thousands of dollars in anesthesia and operating-room fees. But perhaps Americans also started to make the best of their looks, investing in wardrobe enhancement instead of, say, liposuction.

“Cosmetic surgery is a luxury item,” said Dr. Michael F. McGuire, the president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, who practices in Los Angeles. “People are thinking twice about spending money, even if they have it. I’ve noticed even very wealthy patients, they are deferring.”
~ NYTimes.com