Orange County Register

Cosmetic doctors predict that patients in 2009 will count their pennies more carefully than before, seeking out lower-cost therapies for improving their looks or skipping cosmetic work entirely.

Doctors also foresee some technological developments such as wrinkle-fighting injections that will compete against Botox, plus struggling technologies that will vanish under the pressures of the difficult economy.

Bargain hunting

“We are going to see people ’shopping’ for less-expensive procedures,” says dermatologic surgeon Dr. David Sire of Fullerton (pictured)

Plastic surgeon Dr. John Di Saia of San Clemente says, “Patients will plan smaller operations with less downtime costing less money. This is pretty typical of cosmetic-surgery clientele when money is tighter.

“Patients who might be best served with a tummy tuck will have one more reason to try a lesser liposuction procedure,” he says.

UCI’s dermatology clinic is preparing to treat more patients for skin disorders, expecting that it will see fewer patients who are seeking purely cosmetic enhancements, says Dr. Christopher Zachary, chairman of the Department of Dermatology.

That’s not likely to happen in Hollywood, says plastic surgeon Dr. Toby Mayer of Beverly Hills.

We are fortunate to be located in the heart of the entertainment industry’s beautiful people – who must remain beautiful. Their careers depend on it.

Also, in a tough job market, business leaders and managers are constantly competing with younger counterparts who look fresh, eager and energetic. A great percentage of our cosmetic surgery patients are in this category. Cosmetic surgery for them is a necessity, not a luxury.

New technologies

Mayer foresees greater acceptance of dermal fillers that last longer than the six months to one-year-plus currently achieved by fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane and Radiesse.

Di Saia isn’t optimistic about technological developments. “While there may be some new technology, I’d wager that these will be items already near completion. In a down economy venture capital will be more scarce so we will see less investment overall,” he says.

Two potential competitors for Botox – PurTox and Reloxin – are approaching completion of their regulatory hurdles. They expected to reach the market in 2009.

Marketplace casualties

Plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Persky of Encino predicts that “many more borderline companies will be weeded out in 2009.” He adds, “The economy will continue to have its effect on cosmetic medical companies as we have seen Artes and Rhytec go out of business in the past two weeks.” Artes Medical of San Diego made a long-lasting dermal filler. Rhytec  Inc. of Waltham, Mass., sold a laser-like plasma skin therapy device.

Zachary foresees tough times ahead for laser liposuction, which he considers of little use to patients. He says:

The super-bloated market in laser lipo devices will hit rock bottom in 2009, and good riddance. They were always a marketing tool, and did little to advance the science of the art, or provide benefit to the patients.

Sire says the downturn will increase economic pressure on medspas and on doctors who practice on their own.

Like patients, doctors will be more frugal, Zachary says, so they’ll hesitate before adopting new technologies.

Physicians are going to look harder and longer at the new technologies as they arrive, and consider the relative benefit of these new devices over their existing ones, on which they still have lease payments.

Bottom line is that the new lasers and energy-based devices are going to have to prove their worth before the usually gullible purchasers snap them up, which is no bad thing.

Related links:

• CEO quits as maker of ArteFill posts $12.3 million loss
• Giant J&J confronts Allergan in breast implant market
• Amid market turmoil, some patients skip plastic surgery
• Breast implants are down in the U.S.
• Slumping economy hits medspas
• Demand for plastic surgery drops
• Economy kills 2 anti-aging companies

For more on cosmetic medicine, see links on the right side of this blog.

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