The world’s economy is in shambles from the devastation caused by the COVID-19 virus. Not only have stocks crashed, but businesses have also shut down indefinitely and some people have lost their jobs while others have taken massive pay cuts. During this trying economic time, many people are seeing what kind of businesses are recession proof and which ones are not. For example, supermarkets and convenience stores remain safe during these hard times, while clothing stores and salons are being forced to close their doors for good.
With that being said, a particularly interesting area to examine when it comes to whether or not it is recession proof is the plastic surgery industry.
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Will Plastic Surgery Be Impacted By a Recession?
A doctor that specializes in rhinoplasty in Tampa pointed out that the plastic surgery industry is seeing significant changes. Building off of that statement, it begs the question, is plastic surgery recession proof? This post will briefly detail some ways that the plastic surgery industry has been impacted by the recent recession to allow you to decide whether or not it is strong enough to survive a recession.
People Aren’t Spending Money on Cosmetic Surgery
Plastic surgery is often not essential for most people. In some cases, people need plastic surgery to repair something on their body that is impacting their life in a negative way, but overall, plastic surgery is a luxury. Therefore, people that do not necessarily need the surgery are not going to spend their money on it during a recession; this has been the case in regards to the recession that has been caused by the COVID-19 virus.
People are saving their money for more essential things right now such as mortgages, insurance, medical bills, and groceries. This is true for people that have lost money or their job, as well as those that haven’t, simply because the future of the economy is still uncertain. In addition to not being able to afford plastic surgery right now, people are rescheduling their appointments or canceling them all together because of the fear of contracting the virus in the plastic surgeons’ doctor’s office or in the hospital.
Surgeons Are Offering Discounted Rates
In regards to the current recession induced by the global pandemic, plastic surgeons are offering discounted rates in order to entice people to get work done. To keep appointment books filled, plastic surgeons are offering their services for much cheaper than they normally would which raises eyebrows, especially those of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS).
The BAAPS claims that offering discounts and deals trivializes the importance of the plastic surgery industry. Services such as botox, liposuction, and rhinoplasty are being offered for much cheaper than they would have been offered this time last year. This becomes an issue for not only the reputation of the plastic surgery industry but also the future of it. Offering discounted rates for services in order to remain recession-proof could compromise the industry and make it hard to recover once the world is back on its feet economically.
People Are Choosing Non-Invasive Over Cosmetic Surgery
Plastic surgery is not a cheap thing, this is mainly because anesthesia is often required as well as a hospital visit/stay. Plastic surgery is more or less a luxury as it is extremely costly. As the world is scrambling to get the economy up and running again, and people are not opting to spend their money on plastic surgery, many people are gravitating towards non-invasive cosmetic procedures.
Non-invasive procedures are cosmetic procedures that do not break the skin or touch one’s internal organs. These procedures have significantly faster recovery time and are often much cheaper than cosmetic surgery. Non-invasive procedures are cheaper because they are often done right in the doctor’s office and do not require anesthesia. As the medical world evolves, non-invasive procedures are being perfected to act as an alternative to going under the knife. Because of their affordability, non-invasive surgery is becoming more popular for those that desperately want to work done but can not afford it in the current political climate.
Some popular non-invasive procedures include:
- Botox
- Laser fat removal
- Laser hair removal
- Lip injections
- Dermal fillers
- Microblading
The Future of the Plastic Surgery Industry
Overall, it seems that the plastic surgery industry will survive a recession, however, it will- and has been- impacted tremendously. Plastic surgery is becoming more and more essential in the modern world and it is unlikely that people are going to stop utilizing it; however, it is still very much subject to changes when the economy is taking a hit.
About the Author
Jennifer Bell is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey
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