Goldman Sachs, Cosmetic Surgery, Tweens and “American Exceptionalism”

Posted on | April 30, 2010 | 1 Comment

Mike Magee

As leaders from Goldman Sachs were facing off Congressional questioners on issues of ethics, conflict of interest and the need to reset the American culture, data from a quite different source suggested that the financial crisis was already impacting the most personal of personal choices. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported a 9% drop in cosmetic surgery procedures in 2009 from roughly 1.7 million to 1.5 million. Before anyone draws deep sociologic conclusions from this, full disclosure requires the reporting of an uptick in Botox like treatments to nearly 5 million nationwide at a cost of $400 a treatment or a cool 2 billion for frozen faces. (1)

All the financial pressure may be inducing selective weight loss if the figures are to be believed. Liposuction is down nearly 20%. Typical surgeon’s fees for that, about $5,000. Double that when you add in all the support service and facility charges. Noses fared better, but still nose jobs were down 9%. Butt lifts fell, and more breasts were left unaugmented, but more upper arm jiggles were trimmed. (1)

But if you want to view real cosmetic trends, as anyone who watches “American Idol” can tell you, follow the Tweenies. The NPD Group, a consumer research company, says little girls are increasingly using big girl cosmetics. Mascara use has gone from 10% to 18% in the past two years; eyeliner from 9% to 15%, and lipstick from 10% to 15%. And in many cases it’s the moms who are the girls’ beauty consultants, and the cosmetics companies (like the tobacco companies) who testify with a Goldman Sachs straight face that they don’t market their products to children. (2) (CONTINUE….)

Category: american exceptionalism, cosmetic surgery, deTocqueville, goldman sachs, plastic surgery, tweens, Uncategorized

Comments

One Response to “Goldman Sachs, Cosmetic Surgery, Tweens and “American Exceptionalism””

lee's pharmacy soda fountain
April 26th, 2015 @ 11:18 am

Painting a religion of billions with one broad brush stroke to make them
all into ragheads” and monsters proves the simplicity of
your thought.