General

Plastic surgeons hurt by recession

Industry sees hope in new products coming to market

In the U.S., business has been down for the once-booming plastic surgery industry, but members are now hoping that new products could help them recover. Cosmetic procedures performed in the US last year fell 12.3 per cent from 2007 to just over 10.2 million, the New York Times reports, a shock considering the industry has grown since 1997 when about two million procedures took place. The biggest growth area has been non-surgical, mostly thanks to Botox; plastic surgeons are hoping the introduction of another botulinum toxin, Dysport, could create new business for them. “Everybody is excited about it because it’s the first competitor to Botox in seven years,” Manhattan-based Dr. Z. Paul Lorenc told the daily. “It’s also a softer look.” Researchers are also working on topical versions of muscle-numbing medications, although these likely wouldn’t be available for years. Stem cell treatments are also a possibility—some believe they could be extracted from a patient’s fat and used instead of breast implants, for a more natural look.

The New York Times

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