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Recession Cuts Into Plastic Surgery

Number Of Botox Procedures Rises

The struggling economy cut into the cosmetic surgery business last year, but a doctor said he expects demand to return once the recession eases.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons said surgical cosmetic procedures fell to 1.7 million, a 9 percent drop from 2007.

Breast augmentation dropped 12 percent to 307,000 procedures, and liposuction procedures fell 19 percent.

While surgeries fell, lower-impact cosmetic procedures such as Botox injections rose 5 percent.

Taking surgeries and less-invasive procedures together, the number of people getting something done still rose 3 percent for the year.

And society president Dr. John Canady said business will recover with the economy and as the children of baby boomers start to consider surgery.

The group also said in a news release that the number of procedures done on Hispanic people rose 18 percent in 2008.

Canady said that shows that the typical patient is changing, and that plastic surgery is becoming more acceptable in different groups.