Oct. 13--BLOOMINGTON -- Emily Trefzger Campos exfoliated Martha Hall's skin as part of a microdermabrasion treatment. "We're cleansing the skin," Trefzger Campos, a medical aesthetician and laser technician, explained in a quiet voice as soothing music played in the background. |
"Microdermabrasion increases blood flow and helps with fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, acne scarring and spots and enlarged pores."
"It feels soothing," Hall said as she lay on a treatment table at Oasis Medical Spa & Wellness at Twin City Plastic Surgery, Bloomington.
But for Hall, 63, of Normal, the treatment is more than a respite. It's an investment -- in herself.
Six once-a-month microdermabrasion treatments -- at one hour each -- cost Hall $600. She said the uncertain economy has not prompted her to give up the optional treatments, which are not covered by insurance.
"This is something I started a year ago," she said. "I want to maintain it and, if I have to, will cut costs elsewhere. It's good for my health."
However, Hall is reconsidering more expensive surgical cosmetic procedures "until I feel more comfortable with the economy."
Hall is not alone in deciding to continue less expensive, non-surgical cosmetic treatments while putting off more expensive surgery.
According to several medical professionals in McLean County, here are things that can be said about how the slowing economy has affected health care in Bloomington-Normal:
--Patients are not delaying urgent surgeries or tests.
--Patients are continuing to get their prescriptions filled but are doing a better job of looking for less-expensive prescription drug options.
--Some patients are delaying cosmetic surgeries that aren't covered by insurance if there is a less expensive, non-surgical option that can help them until the economy improves.
--Some patients are going ahead with cosmetic surgery for which there isn't a non-surgical option if it's something for which they have planned and saved.
"We're doing fewer big surgeries right now," said Dr. Jeffrey Poulter of The Center for Cosmetic & Laser Surgery, Bloomington. But because Poulter's office offers non-surgical treatments, the decline in surgeries isn't hurting.
But, as far as many people delaying surgeries, "we have really not seen that in our local market," said Dr. Edward Colloton, president and chief executive officer of Eye Surgical Associates in Bloomington and executive director of Bloomington-Normal Healthcare Surgery Center in Normal.
"There are people who can't make ends meet. It's a difficult time. I understand that," Colloton said.
But the vast majority of people in the McLean County area remained employed and consumer confidence here is higher than in some parts of the country, Colloton said.
By the numbers...
The numbers bear that out.
At Bloomington-Normal Healthcare, there has been no decline this year in cases performed compared with 2007, Colloton said. Member-doctors haven't noticed a trend of patients putting off surgeries, he said.
Eye Surgical Associates is on pace to exceed its surgery numbers for 2007, he said. That includes LASIK surgery, which often is covered out-of-pocket by patients, he said.
Bloomington Eye Institute, the outpatient surgery center of Gailey Eye Clinic in Bloomington, also hasn't experienced a decline in surgeries, including elective procedures, said director Karen Magers.
"Our volume actually is higher than at this time last year," she said.
Neither the Ireland Grove Center for Surgery in Bloomington nor the Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center in Normal have experienced any downturn from the economy, said Dr. Edward Kolb, president of Ireland Grove and a partner in the sports medicine center.
Eastland Medical Plaza SurgiCenter, Bloomington, experienced a 6 percent decline in case volume in July and August, said administrator Brenda Cyrulik. Cyrulik isn't sure whether the 6 percent is the expected decline in business because of the opening of the Ireland Grove center earlier this year or whether the 6 percent decline is because of the economy.
"It warrants monitoring but it's not something that makes us extremely concerned," she said.
OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington experienced a slowdown across the board from mid-July to the end of August, said vice president and chief financial officer John Zell. But numbers have picked up since then, so Zell isn't sure whether the downturn was because of the economy or something else.
"Year to date, we're not too far off," he said. "The next few months will tell whether the country is slipping into a recession and, if so, that'll have a real impact on health care."
BroMenn Regional Medical Center in Normal experienced a small drop in business in July and August but that's typical for BroMenn in late summer, spokesman Eric Alvin said.
"It's something we planned for," he said. Numbers have since recovered, he said.
Schnucks Pharmacy in Bloomington hasn't experienced a decline in business; in fact, business has increased since Schnucks began a program a couple of months ago to offer seven prescription antibiotics for free and about 100 other prescription meds for $4, said pharmacist Jeff Govednik. Several other pharmacies have similar programs.
The timing of the program proved to be good for the pharmacies and patients.
"The customers are asking about this program to see if the medicine they have been prescribed is on the list," Govednik said. If not, some customers are asking their doctors whether they can take a similar drug on the list.
"People are being a little more proactive about their health care," Govednik said.
Hall, who has two adult children, was her mother's caregiver for six years until her mother died on Dec. 4, 2006. Hall recalls looking at herself in the mirror then.
"I just looked so old and so tired," she said. She saved her money and had cosmetic surgery on her upper and lower eyelids.
Dr. Chad Tattini of Twin City Plastic Surgery performed the surgery in November 2007.
Since then, to help maintain her appearance and confidence, Hall decided to have the microdermabrasion treatments monthly.
Any other possible further surgeries will wait until the economy improves.
Poulter, as well as Tattini and Dr. Laura Randolph of Twin City Plastic Surgery, have experienced a slight decrease in the numbers of brow lifts and facelifts, but an increase in patients wanting non-surgical facial rejuvenation.
"The economy has had a little bit of a waiting effect on these people," Poulter said.
A brow lift costs $6,000 to $8,000 and a facelift costs $10,000 to $15,000, Tattini and Randolph said. Cosmetic surgery typically is not covered by insurance.
Non-surgical treatments include botox injections to soften facial creases. Botox costs $400 to $500 per treatment and the effects last about three months, Randolph said.
Laser treatments to diminish spots, spider veins and fine lines, and skin treatments such as microdermabrasion, to even out the skin complexion, also are increasing in popularity and generally are available for less than $1,000.
Breast augmentation and removing excess skin following massive weight loss are not decreasing because there are no non-surgical options, the doctors said.
"The ladies plan for those for several months or years. It is not an impulse thing," Randolph said. "Because of the planning, it is not so dependent on the economy."
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Don't do it
For people considering putting off medical tests or procedures or avoiding taking their medicine because their income is decreasing, here's advice from McLean County medical professionals:
--Don't compromise on your health -- If today's health concern isn't addressed, it could turn into tomorrow's health crisis. That means you're sicker and today's $500 bill grows to tomorrow's $50,000 bill. Not diagnosing and treating a problem could become a fatal mistake. Not taking your medicine as prescribed means your condition will not be fully treated.
--Talk with your health care provider -- The business office at your doctor's office, clinic or hospital may know how you can get financial assistance.
--Take care of yourself -- Eating healthy and getting exercise and adequate rest can only help your condition.
SOURCES: Shirley Drazewski, Brenda Cyrulik, Karen Magers, Dr. Edward Colloton
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