Downturn adding wrinkle to consumers’ decisions on plastic surgery

Business First of Columbus – by Carrie Ghose

After medical school and eight additional years of surgical training, Dr. Jeffrey Donaldson is ready to start his first practice. In plastic surgery. One of the specialties suffering most acutely from the nation’s anemic discretionary spending.

Now completing a fellowship in plastic surgery of the eye in Atlanta, the Upper Arlington native plans to open a Columbus-area office in February. That would have sounded great last winter, when trade groups were reporting yet another blockbuster year for cosmetic procedures in a largely cash-only business that lacks the hassles of insurance reimbursements.

This year, surgeons are seeing a decline in elective cosmetic procedures as patients opt for just a tummy tuck instead of adding breast augmentation, or choose Botox over a face-lift. Eye surgeons, meanwhile, are reporting a decline in laser vision correction, another procedure not usually covered by insurance.