Despite Risks, Adults Not Shying Away from Cosmetic Surgery and Other Treatments

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- In an era of rising out-of-pocket costs for healthcare, a small but slightly increasing minority of U.S. adults are opting for expensive invasive cosmetic treatments that are not always covered by medical insurance, according to the results of a new Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Healthcare Poll. Similar numbers of adults say they have had invasive (7 percent) and non-invasive (8 percent) cosmetic surgery or other treatments and many of these procedures, regardless of their invasiveness, appear to be elective rather than medically necessary. The poll also shows that while the percentage of adults who have undergone cosmetic surgery or other treatments remains relatively small, directionally, those who have undergone a treatment are slightly more likely now than two years ago to report experiencing problems that required follow-up.

Is there a doctor in the house?

Majorities of those who have undergone a non-invasive treatment said they had their procedure(s) performed by a medical doctor with a medical degree or another medical professional. Laser treatments appear to be the exception to this rule. While two in five adults who had laser treatment say the procedure was performed by a medical doctor (22 percent) or another medical professional (17 percent), 61 percent say the procedure was performed by a technician, an increase of 25

percentage points from 2004.(1)

Elective vs. medically necessary procedures

With the exception of bariatric surgery, majorities of those who have undergone invasive cosmetic surgery or other treatments say their procedure was elective rather than medically necessary. While a majority (54 percent) of those who had bariatric surgery said it was medically necessary, elective bariatric surgery doubled in popularity within the past two years, from 23 percent to 46 percent.(2) Interestingly, the opposite can be said for liposuction. Electively, it fell from 96 to 81 percent, yet medically necessary liposuction increased from four to 19 percent.(3)

Treatment concerns

While a majority of those who have undergone any cosmetic treatment or other procedure say they were not very (26 percent) or not at all (37 percent) concerned prior to the treatment about the potential risks or complications, 33 percent say they were somewhat concerned and 9 percent say they were very concerned. These percentages increase substantially for those who have undergone an invasive procedure (47 percent somewhat concerned, 17 percent very concerned). These concerns appear to be somewhat warranted as one in 10 (10 percent) report experiencing medical problems that required follow-up as a result of any cosmetic surgery or other treatment they received, up slightly from seven

percent in 2004.

The poll also reveals concerns about treatments that are conducted by technicians. More than half of adults who have never had cosmetic surgery or other treatments say they would be somewhat (24 percent) or very (32 percent) concerned about receiving such treatments from someone other than a medically trained doctor.

References:

(1) Very small base. Data should be used directionally.
(2) Very small base. Data should be used directionally.
(3) Very small base. Data should be used directionally.

Source: Harris Interactive Inc.