Beauty Doc Blog

July 15.2008

Cosmetic procedures still valued by clients

The Arizona Republic

Excerpt:
While high costs of fuel and groceries may make for an ugly economic outlook, people increasingly are turning to med-spa and plastic surgery treatments to face harsh times with a fresh look.

Despite the sluggish economy, the number of cosmetic procedures has grown nationwide to 11.7 million in 2007, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Including laser surgeries and Botox injections, the number of less invasive treatments has grown nearly 773 percent since 1997, the group says, from more than 1.1 million a decade ago to 9.6 million annually.

Laser hair removal, intense pulse light photofacials, laser vein reduction, laser tattoo removal and several other procedures have remained popular with medical spa and plastic surgery clients willing to cut back on spending but not on trying to stop signs of aging.

Among the top five non-surgical cosmetic procedures in 2007 were laser hair removal with 1.4 million and laser skin resurfacing and rejuvenation with 647,000, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.