IN these times of belt-tightening and cutbacks, you would have thought cosmetic surgeons would be left twiddling their scalpels.
But it seems the credit crunch is actually providing an unexpected boost for the industry, with the number of people in Edinburgh undergoing expensive cosmetic surgery – particularly breast enlargements – on the rise.
Some experts even believe th
e hike could be down to a determination to look and feel good in increasingly competitive work environments.
The number of Edinburgh women undergoing breast enhancement surgery rocketed by more than 20 per cent last year, according to the Transform Cosmetic Surgery Group, which carried out 324 procedures at its clinic on Great Stuart Street in 2008 compared to 253 the year before.
Spire Healthcare, meanwhile, which owns Spire Murrayfield Hospital, said the number of facelift procedures at the hospital rose by a staggering 27 per cent, while pinnaplasty (ear pinning surgery) spiralled by 19 per cent during the same period.
It didn't stop there – lower eyelid reductions increased by 18 per cent, while breast uplifts rose by 11 per cent and breast reductions by 8.5 per cent. Liposuction also rose by eight per cent, with breast augmentations up six per cent.
Ken Stewart, consultant plastic surgeon at the hospital, said: "It has been a very healthy year. The numbers are fairly consistent and have gone up.
"Cosmetic surgery is becoming more affordable for normal people and more accessible to normal people.
"I think there's an increasing awareness of our availability and affordability, and people are deciding that it's an acceptable thing to do."
Transform spokeswoman, Shami Thomas, offered another explanation for the rise.
She said: "Historically, we have found in times of doom and gloom people still want to look good. In an ironic way the credit crunch has helped because we do find that a lot of patients, especially when they are in quite a competitive workplace, like looking good and think it's really important.
"I think it's widely known that people who are confident and attractive do very well in the workplace. Looking good is really important and some people just aren't prepared to scrimp and save on that. People may cut other things out like holidays or home improvements, or a new car, but if you want something as important as life-changing surgery, the chances are you will find a way to fund it."
One woman who did not let the current financial climate affect her decision to have a breast enlargement was mother-of-three, Kimberley Skinner, 51, from Falkirk, who increased her assets from a 36B to a 36E in October last year, after visiting Transform's Edinburgh clinic.
She said: "I had been thinking about it for 16 years and when I started hearing about breast enlargements years ago, it was still a bit of a taboo subject.
"I breast-fed my children and it was like 'hello bust, goodbye'.
"Since the operation, I've never looked back. It was the most incredible experience I have had. My confidence levels have gone through the roof whereas before I wouldn't say I was a very confident person. It's had quite a profound effect on me."
The 90-minute procedure cost Kimberley – a housewife – £3995, but she said money was never a factor in her decision.
She added: "Money was not an issue to me. It purely was the fear factor and the unknown.
"I think there are a lot of unhappy flat-chested girls out there and I don't think today's economic climate will put people off, because if you're so unhappy you will find a way to get the cash so you can get the operation."
Transform's Mrs Thomas added: "There is a lot more information about cosmetic surgery than there ever has been before. There are more television programmes dispelling any myths and social stigmas of cosmetic surgery. The type of consumers we are seeing are very savvy and well-informed.
"The market shows no signs of slowing down at this stage. Across the vast majority of procedures, we have seen an increase. The increase we have seen in breast enhancements has been by far the largest. Most other procedures have risen by a couple of per cent."
However, Mr Stewart, who is also a member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons Council, sounded a note of caution that "plastic surgery is for life and not just for Christmas".
He added: "When you have plastic surgery there is always the possibility of complications. You are fundamentally changing your appearance and you have to think carefully how you feel about that, and whether that's the right thing for you."
