Oct 23, 2008 6:49 am US/Pacific
Less Invasive Cosmetic Surgery Industry Booming
Powered By Botox And Other Fillers, Doctors Performed More Than 4 Million Minor Procedures In 2007
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
The slowdown in the economy has not had the same devastating results in some offices of cosmetic surgeons. Smaller procedures are proving to be more popular than ever, reports CBS station WCBS-TV in New York City.
There's also increased competition between products, which means lower costs and more options for doctors and patients.
Less invasive cosmetic procedures have steadily gained greater acceptance with Botox and fillers being the two most popular. Doctors performed nearly 4 million procedures last year.
"Our cosmetic business has been growing steadily even with the economic news," said Dr. Joseph A. Eviatar. "There's less resistance. People know more about it. It's in more magazines. It's in the press more."
Bridgette Schoonover and Fiona Johnson are both under 40 and undergoing their first cosmetic procedure, having a filler injected for a smoother appearance. What makes it unique is that this relatively new brand called Elevesse costs almost 30 percent less than competing brands.
"The company is marketing it at a lower price point to its a little less expensive for the doctor, so we can pass that cost saving on to the patient," Dr. Eviatar said.
For these women, in addition to erasing lines, the lower price meant erasing apprehension about costs as well.
"I didn't want to be doing something that was a major expense at this point, just a little something that I could do again down the road, a little money here and there instead of one big chunk," Schoonover said.
"I just got engaged and you really want to look your best," Johnson added. "Yes, it falls into my wedding budget. There's lot of things you have to think about when planning a wedding."
As for the procedure, with topical anesthetic, it's relatively quick and painless.
"You really don't want to have any downtime," Dr. Eviatar said. "The way this stays affordable is if you can go right back to work. If you have to take two days off from work you've taken a relatively inexpensive procedure and made it a big deal."
Expect to pay $400 to $500 per injection, with results lasting from six to eight months.
There's also a brand to rival Botox coming early next year, so look for more competitive pricing there as well.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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