There’s nothing pretty about the current economic slump, including statistics coming out of plastic surgeons’ offices. Cosmetic procedures are way down, suggesting that the effects of the recession may not only far-reaching but also skin deep.

The numbers from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons released March 25:
   * Surgical cosmetic procedures dropped by nine percent in 2008 from the previous year.
   * Breast augmentation suffered a 12 percent drop
   * Liposuction saw a 19 percent decline
   * Eyelid surgeries sagged 8 percent
   * Tummy tucks tumbled by 18 percent

On a prettier note, some minimally-invasive procedures–including Botox treatments and chemical peels–were up a notch. Unfortunately, since there’s little chance of bail-out money for the plastic surgery industry, the picture for 2009 is likely to continue to be glum.

© 2009 PDQhealth

Tags: cosmetic surgery