Plastic surgery or the mortgage?
It's a no-brainer in today's rocky economy. Many people are postponing elective procedures to deal with more pressing issues.
A year ago, for example, Atlanta plastic surgeon Robert Miller was doing breast augmentation surgery every seven to 10 days. Now he's lucky if he does one a month.
Miller, chief of plastic surgery at Piedmont Hospital, said the decline in elective procedures has not affected necessary ones, such as reconstruction after breast cancer surgery.
Insurance pays for the latter, but generally not the former.
Come to think of it, Miller said, the sales rep who provides implants to his office has been "less visible" lately.
Liposuctions and tummy tucks also are down, Miller said.
As Georgia's unemployment rate tops 7 percent and the economy worsens, even those with health insurance are having to pay higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. That makes it harder for people to pay their medical bills.
Even with the belt-tightening, there are procedures some people won't give up. Take Botox, for instance.
The Monday after the Wall Street meltdown last fall, Miller noticed "lots of patients canceled. [But] everybody who had [appointments for] Botox and fillers showed up. It was striking."
Miller figures "women have accepted Botox as they would getting their hair and nails done. It's maintenance."
What it costs
> Botox: $300 to $600 a visit. Usually done every four to six months.
> Breast augmentation surgery: Between $4,500 to $6,000, depending on whether saline or silicone implants are used.
> Fillers (for cheeks, lips, eyes, wrinkles): About $450 to $750 a visit. Usually done every six to nine months.
Source: Dr. Robert A. Miller, chief of plastic surgery, Piedmont Hospital
Copyright 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution