Indiana Plastic Surgery Blog

The political blogs and news providers have been buzzing all day about a proposed cosmetic surgery tax being introduced to finance health care reform.  Top of the Ticket, a blog from the Los Angeles Times, says the tax would probably tack a 10% charge on elective procedures like a Botox, abdominoplasty, or breast augmentation.

Writers of the Speaker’s Lobby say the idea likely came from a treasury department official, and that the tax proposal is supposedly “off the table” for now.  Apparently, most finance committee members are not even aware of the tax proposal.

The so-called ‘Vanity Tax’ is being contested in many different ways, but here are the two arguments being reiterated most.

First of all, the tax would be paid almost entirely by women.  Despite the growing popularity of male cosmetic surgery, women still make up over 90 percent of the patient demographic in the United States.  Clearly, imposing a tax such as the one in question would unfairly discriminate against women.  Think about it this way: would a tax be imposed on men who purchase expensive tattoos, fashionable clothing, or bodybuilding equipment?  It doesn’t seem likely.

Second, what’s probably at work here is the usual misconception that only wealthy people undergo plastic and cosmetic surgery.  You might reference the New York Times story by Natasha Singer titled “Who Is the Real Face of Plastic Surgery?”  Ms. Singer discussed the fact that a large number of patients choose to finance their cosmetic procedures, just as they would a new car.  Also, let’s not forget the 2004 survey conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons; it revealed that nearly “a third of people considering plastic surgery reported average household incomes below $30,000.”

Why undergo breast augmentation surgery? A patient discusses her reasons for getting breast implants, saying “I wanted to look more feminine; I wanted to have cleavage.” Perhaps the most important point she touches on is about education: “I had fears to begin with, but my fears lessened the more information that I gathered.” Check out our breast page or the ASAPS site for more on breast augmentation.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery produced this educational video, and is devoted entirely to advancing the field of cosmetic plastic surgery through education and research.

People sometimes call it “the ultimate acid test,” or more commonly, a chemical peel or facial peel.  I know what you’re thinking; remember the “Sex In The City” episode when Samantha got a chemical peel and looked like raw meat? That was scary, but chemical peels (at least what we offer) aren’t really like that.

Today’s advanced chemical peels provide aesthetic results that are outstanding. Now, peels can actually tighten the skin as they peel away layers and “brighten” even sun-damaged skin. Yes, you do need to be prepared to undergo some tingling upon application (less discomfort than waxing), outlay some money and be out of action for three days, but the results will be worth it – your skin will never look better!

Afterwards, your skin will look dewy and soft, and let’s face it people, at age 50 your skin doesn’t look dewy without doing something! So if you’re not ready for surgery this is the best place to start by trying a safe and effective treatment under medical supervision.

To prepare for the peel and get the best results, you should begin using a range of day and night medical grade skin care products. They can stimulate collagen production and cell turnover and put some elasticity back in your skin.

At Indiana Plastic Surgery, we offer Micro-Peels.  Being the lightest of all chemical peels, micro peels will smooth and soften your skin, brighten your complexion, minimize pore size, and reduce discoloration.