Created on 22nd May 2009
Consultant plastic surgeon Mr Rajiv Grover takes a look at the current state of the cosmetic surgery industry...
Well, it's official, the country is now in recession! Although the economic downturn in the banking sector can be traced back to August 2007 the implications for the high street started to bite in late 2008 and continue into 2009.
Remarkably, the same day as the official announcement of UK recession, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) announced their annual audit figures for cosmetic surgery in 2008 which showed a 5 per cent growth and specific procedures such as breast augmentation were found to have increased by 30 per cent in 2008.
This is particularly surprising as breast augmentation has previously been suggested as a strong indicator of the economy. Clearly the desire for treatment to look and feel good persists although at a slower pace than recent years.
However, this is surgery or treatment for 'want' rather than 'need' and no responsible practitioner would encourage a patient to have something without a sensible and safe clinical indication. It is important therefore that the public do seek out their practitioner carefully as the advice they receive depends on this and seeking treatment only on the basis of cost may not always lead to a long-term saving in the present economic climate.
One significant difference between this recession and the last one (1992) was that the field of non-surgical aesthetics was practically non-existent in the early nineties. Back then anecdotal evidence suggests a significant slowdown in cosmetic treatments which were mainly surgical.
It is possibly the plethora of non-surgical treatments available today that have kept the cosmetic treatment market buoyant so far despite the downturn. Firstly, it attracts a much larger proportion of society, many of whom may not want or need surgery, and secondly the cost being 5-10 per cent of typical surgical procedures allows patients to save for them more easily.
Evidence from the USA published in the Wall Street Journal (January 2009) suggests that in times of economic hardship people still value their appearance not only to raise spirits but also to build confidence which maintains their competitive edge.
Along with the economic pundits it seems difficult to predict what will happen in the coming months to aesthetic medicine and surgery but as the quest for beauty and youth has continued since ancient Egypt demand is likely to continue. It is however imperative for patients to continue researching their practitioner and treatment carefully in order to receive a safe outcome and for the profession to maintain high standards and not cut any corners in order to preserve the trust of the public.
Mr Rajiv Grover works as an NHS Consultant in Plastic Surgery as well as running a private practice in Harley Street and London's King Edward VII Hospital. He is the secretary of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) and is responsible for the Royal College of Surgeons audit of cosmetic surgery and safety. For more information on Mr Rajiv Grover visit www.rajivgrover.co.uk
