UK STATISTICS TO BE RELEASED SOON – A GLIMPSE AT THE USA TRENDS OVER THE PAST YEAR
Mr Ali Juma who is a cosmetic surgeon in Liverpool and founder of Feel Younger cosmetic surgery based in the city centre of Liverpool has been noticing similarities in the cosmetic surgery trends over in the USA.
As a leading cosmetic surgeon in Liverpool, Mr Juma has noted an increase in the demand for non surgical procedures at both his Rodney Street and Wirral Merseyside practices. These include wrinkle relaxing injections, and dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane.
Laser treatments which Mr Juma carries out in Lancashire are also escalating which incorporate laser hair treatments, laser sun spot treatments, and laser thread vein treatments, all of which are proving to be extremely popular at present.
Mr Juma also offers the Obagi Nu Derm skin rejuvenation system which is available in Liverpool, Merseyside, Chester and Lancashire. This non surgical treatment is carried out at home by the patient using prescribed products which cause a chemical change to the skin. The Nu Derm system treats a wide range of issues such as fine lines, wrinkles, pore refinement, mild acne, skin laxity, hyper pigmentation and sun damage. This treatment is becoming increasingly in demand in Liverpool and perhaps so due to the economic climate.
Also available in Liverpool, Merseyside, Chester and Lancashire is the Obagi Blue Peel, another treatment which generates much interest. This peel is administered by Mr Juma, cosmetic surgeon and is used after the Nu Derm has pre conditioned the surface of the skin.
The cosmetic surgery practice in Liverpool and other locations has certainly seen an increased rate of non surgical enquiries and treatments over the past year, which seems to reflect the status in the USA, as per the statistics from the regulatory body ASPS:
Los Angeles Times
That same scene could be played out in plastic surgeons’ offices all over, as people seem to be passing up big-ticket beauty procedures — face-lifts, liposuction, breast augmentation — and seeking less expensive ways to achieve beauty ideals.
According to both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the number of cosmetic surgical procedures done in 2008 was lower than in 2007 — by 9%, according to the ASPS, and 15%, according to the ASAPS. And although 2009 figures will not be available until late February or early March, plastic surgeons say, anecdotally, that business for the year was down at least 20% from 2008.
As a result, cosmetic surgery practices are finding themselves acting somewhat as financial consultants to their patients, helping them work out payment plans, negotiating fees and making out lists of priorities — a Brazilian butt lift can wait, but those wrinkles under the eyes need to be dealt with right away. In addition, plastic surgeons who previously only focused on the expensive and invasive procedures have had to turn their hands to the quick fixes — fillers, peels, laser treatments — which are increasingly in demand now.
“We thought we’d be insulated better,” said Dr. Toby Mayer, a Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon. “But even though we have a large percentage base of Hollywood clients who are not affected by these economic conditions, for the large majority of our patients, the big procedures are out of the question for now.”
Nonetheless, and partly because of an increasingly competitive job market, people still want to get work done, Mayer said, but they need cheaper options. Among them: Botox, Restylane and other injectibles that minimize wrinkles are proving especially popular and, at about $1,000 a treatment, are more affordable than the average $10,000 for a face-lift.
It’s not just cosmetic surgeons who are having to play to the demands of the market. Dermatologists, hairstylists and all manner of beauty professionals are having to tailor their businesses to a marketplace now focused much more on the bottom line. In effect, luxurious and indulgent treatments are out; quick fixes with immediate results are in.
“Two years ago, it wasn’t unusual for a patient to request a laser treatment, Botox and Restylane all on the same visit,” said Dr. Jessica Wu, a Westwood dermatologist. “Nowadays, they’re more likely to ask me which treatment they should do first, and which ones can wait till the next visit . . . so that we can prioritize what treatments we should do first.”
Despite L.A.’s reputation as a body-conscious town, beauty practitioners say patients and clients are forgoing work on their bodies and concentrating primarily on the face. With the job market skewing younger, beauty professionals say, people come in saying they need to look more youthful, and quickly.
“If I look at my practice now compared to 15 years ago, the motivations are different,” said Dr. Brent Moelleken, a plastic surgeon who has practices in Beverly Hills, Santa Barbara and Bakersfield. “Before, women would come in after they got divorced or widowed. Today, it’s seen almost as a necessity to remain competitive in the business world. But while they’re still concerned about a pot belly or their breasts, they are much more economically minded. They don’t just walk into a plastic surgeon’s office and get the most expensive procedure: They shop around, go to many doctors, look at prices and negotiate. In the heyday, even five years ago, they would be embarrassed to negotiate. Today, it’s the rule.”
