Surgical advantage: More turn to cosmetic surgery to compete at work

 

 

You’re 65 years old and the economy has made it impossible for you to retire. But you worry that you look old compared to younger colleagues. What can you do?

How about a little cosmetic surgery?

This is precisely the scenario that Rapid City surgeon Lee Trotter has seen increase in the past two years. Rather than a drop in business due to the economy, his practice has seen a slight bump. 

“We have seen, as the economy in the last year or so has taken a downturn, we’ve actually seen our cosmetic business going up,” he said.

Trotter said most of his patients are women who tell him they want to remain in the workplace — need to remain in the workplace — but have to look younger to compete.

It’s a situation playing out across the nation, according to a survey by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.