If you’re considering Botox injections to diminish wrinkles or other cosmetic procedures, such as liposuction or face lifts, to turn back the hands of time, now would be a good time to do it if you don’t want to pay a 5% tax on these services. The $848 billion health care bill unveiled this past week by the Senate includes a 5% tax on aesthetic procedures and surgeries which is estimated to raise $5 billion over the next decade to fund the health care bill. Plastic surgeons are, not surprisingly, against such a tax due to its potential effect on income. On the other hand, proponents of the tax reason that some cosmetic procedures are luxury services and should be taxed as such. Approximately 12 million cosmetic procedures and surgeries (which are usually not covered by insurance) were performed last year, at a total cost of $10.3 billion, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. [via Kaiser Health News]
The following were the most popular cosmetic procedures of 2008, and their costs:
Top Five Minimally Invasive Procedures
- Botox – $391
- Hyaluronic Acid (to fill in wrinkles) – $578
- Chemical Peel – $815
- Laser Hair Removal – $456
- Microdermabrasion – $200
Top Five Surgical Procedures
- Breast Augmentation – $3,348
- Nose Reshaping – $4,197
- Liposuction – $2,881
- Eyelid Surgery – $2,963
- Tummy Tuck – $5,167
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Tags: botox, chemical peel, cosmetic, hyaluronic acid, laser hair removal, liposuction, microdermabrasion, plastic surgery, surgery, tummy tuck
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:35 am
This should be titled the Kerry/Pelosi amendment. When they smile the contorians in their face tells the whole story.
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:50 am
Yes ! These proceedures should have a luxury tax on them to help all of us out ! These are not expenditures undertaken by a hungry person !!
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:55 pm
I don’t believe these elective procedures should endure a luxury tax. Yes they are elective but also they are a service, and often a quite personal choice. The government shouldn’t charge tax. Next thing we know, they’ll be taxing haircuts and manicures.
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:05 pm
NO CONSIDERING THAT THEY CONSIDER DENTURES COSMETIC ELECTIVES FOR TOOTHLESS MEDICARE RECPIENTS COSMETIC THEREFORE DISABLED AND ELDERLY CANNOT AFFORD TEETH TO EAT WITH!
November 25th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
These procedures are already high cost compared to other countries.
Is this TAX “really” going to help the United States as a whole? 5% here. 5% there, and after awhile it adds up.The consumer will have to find a way not only pay the tax but also pay for the procedure. These little taxes seem like nothing until one day there will be a tax on everything. I am from Brazil and this socialist country has 60% tax on FOOD! And our FREE health care in Brazil is terrible. We pay R$1,200 in car registration per year..People in Brazil buy a car and can’t aford the road tax, car tax, registration, etc.
Dude..you Americans need to wake up…
November 27th, 2009 at 12:46 am
no! i do not believe by taxing in a small proceudures rather than the general tax given by the health systems.the society may lose confidence to wards the honesty of the government.by the way i am ethiopian living with unawareness to wardes the beneift of tax.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:42 pm
I have concerns about the Healthcare Law. Will it cause negative reprocussions to my well being? How do the benefits outweigh the cons?