Plastic Surgery: More Americans Opt for the Procedure
More Americans are opting for plastic surgery since 2009, which potentially shows that the U.S. economy may be improving.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 13.1 million cosmetic surgeries and minimal invasive procedures were conducted in 2010- a 5 percent increase from 2009. In 2008, when evidence of the economic downturn was acknowledged by many Americans, the plastic surgery industry suffered, alongside various other industries that were affected. Since the recession began, this is the first time that cosmetic surgeries are on the rise.
"It's reassuring we're not going to have a year like 2008, and I guess we're one more indicator of that," said Dr. Phil Haeck, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. "People have taken care of their family, so now they feel they can do a little.
The top surgery performed by surgeons has continued to be breast augmentation. Last year, 296,000 Americans underwent the procedure.
People are reassured and more confident that we're not going to have a double dip recession," said Haeck. "This is just one more tiny sign that the economy is moving forward. It's slow, but it may be that we'll slowly pull out of this recession."
