Who knew? Trendy holiday gift may be nipping at your nose Plastic surgery business is brisk in the Houston area By ANNE BELLI Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Ah, the holidays. Time for eggnog, caroling and Botox. It's the season of giving and getting, and in Houston that means plastic surgeons are working overtime performing face-lifts, breast augmentations, liposuctions and tummy tucks. Much of their business is from husbands and boyfriends giving their loved ones everything from major cosmetic surgeries to stocking stuffers such as collagen treatments and Botox injections. That's the case with Kendra Schroeder of Pasadena, whose husband gave her a new pair of breasts as an early Christmas present at Thanksgiving. The 26-year-old leasing agent says she couldn't wait to collect on her gift; Dr. Franklin Rose performed her augmentation surgery two weeks ago, just in time for holiday parties. "I never had breasts, and I wanted something there," said Schroeder, whose husband is a chemical plant operator and spent $7,000 on the operation. "It's the most expensive Christmas gift I've ever gotten and probably always will be. I feel very loved that he was willing to do that for me." Business at cosmetic surgeons' offices typically gets a boost around the holidays, partly because people can take vacation time to recuperate. Rising popularity It's particularly brisk this year, some surgeons said, perhaps because luxury spending is robust, the economy is improving and reality TV shows such as Extreme Makeover have made plastic surgery more popular. That means cosmetic procedures are landing on holiday wish lists like never before. "It's a maelstrom of plastic surgery," Rose said on a rare afternoon break between cases. Despite recent health scares involving Botox, demand keeps rising. Doctors are working nights and weekends to keep up. Some said they'll work right through Christmas and New Year's eves. Their regular 9-to-5 schedules have given way to 12-hour-plus days that begin at 7 a.m. and go past 8 p.m., they said. "Everybody wants to get in quickly, so we try to accommodate them by staying later in the evening and seeing patients in the office on Saturdays," said Dr. Neal Reisman, associate chief of plastic surgery at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. "You work as long as you have to work." Patients aren't the only ones getting a lift. Surgeons say their bottom lines will see boosts between 20 percent and 30 percent during the holidays. The holiday rush follows a national trend. Nationwide, 8.3 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2003, up 20 percent from the year before, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Since 1997, the number of procedures has grown by 293 percent. The most common surgical procedures last year were liposuctions, breast augmentations, eyelid adjustments, rhinoplasties and breast reductions, according to the society. The most common nonsurgical procedures were Botox injections, laser hair removals, microdermabrasions, chemical peels and collagen injections. Houston doctors said breast augmentations are topping their patients' holiday wish lists. They're also performing a lot of liposuctions and face-lifts. Cheaper options While many patients, such as Schroeder, are collecting on early Christmas gifts, others are coming in for so-called quick fixes — Botox injections to get rid of laugh lines or collagen to make lips look more pouty — to get ready for holiday parties. "This time of year people are just ravenous about looking their best," said Dr. Don Collins Jr., president of the Houston Society of Plastic Surgeons and a surgeon at Christus St. Joseph Hospital. The nonsurgical procedures are much more affordable. Botox treatments, collagen injections and soft-tissue "fat" fillers all generally cost $1,000 or less. "These are really stocking stuffers because most people can benefit from them," Reisman said. Some doctors, such as those at the Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery near the Galleria, are offering holiday discounts. Proceed with caution Extreme Makeover and similar reality shows may be popular but may foster unrealistic and unhealthy expectations, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Cosmetic surgery, while it has benefits, also has real risks, the organization says. Not everyone is a good candidate for cosmetic surgery, Reisman and others said. Well-meaning spouses and others should reconsider surprising their loved ones with gifts of liposuction or breast enlargement until the potential recipients have consulted with their physicians. "The person has to want the surgery for themselves, not because the husband wants it done," said Dr. Michael Eisemann, a Houston surgeon. Image from story: Caption: Kendra Schroeder's husband gave her breast implants for Christmas, courtesy of Dr. Franklin Rose.
Is it just me or is this like the new millenium version of the 1970 gift of a vacuum cleaner for the wife. "Honey, Merry Christmas. This year, instead of diamonds or something fun, I'm getting you plastic surgery because, damn, you fugly!"
Jeff: It's really not that. A lot, and I mean a LOT of women want plastic surgery. Their is always something they've wanted done. To me, if my wife/girlfriend was self-concious about something and confided to me about it, I'd consider a nose-aug, or a tattoo removed, or some mild problem fixed. What I would not do, and no man should ever do, is pay for breast augs, lipos, tummy tucks, etc. even if the woman really wants it. You're just asking for trouble. A friend of mine has paid for two breast procedures because it was what she wanted. They both dumped him shortly thereafter.
I would be insulted. "You're buying me breasts for Christmas? Couldn't stand me like I was, could you?" Same with tummy tucks and nose jobs and all the rest. The title makes me laugh... remember when "Jack Frost nipping at your nose" was just a figure of speech?
"That's right, honey. You're just not physically adequate enough for me. Merry Christmas." BTW, the girl in that picture looks plastic from head to toe. Fake blonde hair, fake nose, face-lift, fake tan, and now fake t***. I'm sure her husband married her for her mind...
Me love you...long time! Trust me...he's not just doing it to make you "feel very loved". Haha...that's hilarious.
I can see how that'd be offensive. It'd be like if one you guys got a penis enlargement pump for Christmas from your girl. Of course if I had a girl, and she gave me one, I'd laugh and tell her that I'm not ready to join the circus yet. /non-Rice alum
Her face is wrapped up so tight she looks just like a maniquen(sp?). But I'm sure she's more intelligent............................barely.
I can definitely see that. It's like buying you a membership to 24 Hour Fitness when you didn't ask. Uh, thanks, I guess.
Eh, her husband was willing to buy them for her, and she claims to have wanted them herself (not a "honey, I love you, but damn you need some new breastices" thing). It's an expensive gift for sure, but it was his choice to pay and at least he's getting some fun out of them, too.
He probably brought it up during sex. "Honey, what if I gave you some new breasts for x-mas this year?" Actual thought: These existing lil'l ones haven't been doing it for me in a long time. This is just like the face lift I got you a few years back when your face wasn't doing it for me. Why do I do it? Cause I want you to feel loved and this is the only way I can continue to give you the love at that level you feel special at.
Are these things bio-degradable? I swear some civilization thousands of years from now will be excavating sites and unearthing these plastic blobs trying to figure out what part they played in the burial ceremonies of 21st century America.
