Trend: Tight economy boosts demand for plastic surgery

In an economy like this, you might think that people would drop all plans for doing elective procedures like plastic surgery, which usually isn't covered by health insurance, but you'd actually be wrong. And these aren't cheap procedures, either. For example, Botox involving the upper face averages $800, and two vials of Restylane filler can cost $1,200.

As it turns out, many women are getting cosmetic procedures anyway, as they feel it enhances their professional marketability and builds their confidence in a tight job market, research suggests.

New research from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons found that almost 3.5 million women in the workplace, or about 3 percent of working women, have already undergone a cosmetic surgery as an investment in their career future. They're also using their time out of work to get procedures done rather than recuperate during on-the-job time.

Procedures on the rise include Botox, up 8 percent in 2008 vs. 2007; use of hyaluronic acid, up 6 percent; and chemical peels, up 2 percent. Though more-invasive surgical procedures like breast implants and tummy tucks have dropped 9 percent in volume, total cosmetic procedures and minimally invasive cosmetic procedure have increased since 2007.

To learn more about this trend:
- read this HealthDay News piece