Lunchtime Plastic Surgeries: Open for Business!

by Barb Tate

There is a new menu for lunch in many parts of country. Just as sit-down restaurants transformed into fast-food, so apparently has the world of cosmetic surgery. We are now in the age of amazingly quick plastic surgery procedures. These lunchtime treatments- Botox, collagen fillers, non-surgical facelifts, chemical peels, and a host of small cosmetic enhancement procedures— are gaining popularity. This is especially so among city-dwellers who simply do not have the time to schedule an after-work or weekend appointment.

These treatments can routinely be completed in under an hour. A huge perk to patients is that they can safely return to work without fear of looking like they just went under the knife: all treatments have extremely minimal recovery time. Most have none at all. If we can get our oil changed, work out, and shop for shoes in our mid-day break, why not get a little face work done?

An alternative explanation for their popularity (other than merely time-management skills) is that these treatments have steadily become very affordable to a lot of people. In recent years there has been a demand for shorter procedures that are financially manageable with very little recovery time. An appropriate parallel to the promptness of modern technology, we now do not have to wait to look younger or thinner-and for cheap!

WHO RECEIVES THESE TREATMENTS?

These in-and-out procedures are greatly benefiting both doctors and patients. Many doctors administering these treatments admit that as much as 40% of their business comes during the lunch hour. Patients are also becoming more comfortable with cosmetic surgeries- recommendations across different generations are becoming more and more common. It is not entirely unheard of for a grandmother to buy her 27 year-old granddaughter a botox treatment, for example. Men are also an important part of this midday movement. ‘Anti-sweatox’ (anti-sweating treatments) and ‘Mantox’ applications are as popular for the suave businessman as they are for women. In certain cases, the subtle after-effects of an injection can strengthen a man’s poker face during a heated meeting!

WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR PROCEDURE DURING LUNCH?

Botox is the highest performed procedure on the lunch menu. Application is very subtle, with very rapid and positive results. Botox provides positive effects beyond decreased wrinkling and relaxed muscles. Botox is regularly used to treat migraines, excess sweating, facial twitches, sagging neck skin, jaw reduction, and smile correction.

ARE THERE ANY DANGERS WITH LUNCH TREATMENTS?

Unfortunately, the ease in which these procedures are now available can have damaging effects. As the amount of lunch-time patrons increase, so do the amount of doctors- however inexperienced they may be. Although procedures like Botox seem very tame, a registered physician should always be your ideal choice for administration. Unlicensed doctors can be extremely dangerous and the negative side-effects during procedures like Botox and lip-enhancing dermal fillers can have permanent effects that will undoubtedly require surgical reconstruction in the future.

The availability and sheer ease of these procedures is also producing a subculture of ‘plastic-surgery- addicts. ‘ The lunch hour has opened a new opportunity for patients to potentially overindulge in treatments. You should always consult your doctor over how many treatments are actually safe for you and if you might have an unhealthy compulsion for them.

If you or someone you know is interested in sneaking away for a quick fix-up during the lunch hour please contact us at the Plastic Surgery Portal for a doctor consultation. And just make sure to bring a sandwich to eat while you are waiting!