Plastic surgery popular despite economic woes: poll

A doctor (L) shows the location of a Botox injection on the forehead of a patient after administering the injection at a walk-in Botox salon in New York July 17, 2007.

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Most women under 50 have not turned their backs, or faces, on cosmetic beauty-enhancement, despite the state of the economy.

While the recession continues, a poll of 1,000 women carried out this month showed that 63 percent aged 18-34 and 73 percent of women aged 35-49 thought positively of age-camouflaging procedures.

Of the younger bracket in favor of cosmetic work, 44 percent said they consider Botox -- administered by syringe to smooth out frown lines -- to be a "routine" procedure, according to a survey conducted by E-Poll Market Research and commissioned by cable television network Oxygen Media.

"Interest in plastic surgery remains very strong, despite the economy," said Dr. Gilbert Lee, a San Diego-based plastic surgeon.

Separate statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, showed Botox treatment in the United States increased 8 percent in 2008, though liposuction, face-lifts and breast augmentations fell markedly.

Although Botox is popular, bling is better than an enhanced bust nowadays, the poll showed, as only 22 percent of women aged 18-34 would prefer breast augmentation over a diamond bracelet.

Finance is not totally inconsequential, however, with 90 percent of women aged 18-34 preferring a vacation house in Paris than Paris Hilton's body.

Career-building seems to be a priority to women too these days as 68 percent of 18-34-year-olds would rather have journalist Katie Couric's career than actress Katie Holmes's looks.

And only 23 percent of women aged 34-49 said they would rather have $10,000 in cosmetic procedure than $10,000 in investments.

While such procedures are mostly the pursuit of women, 70 percent of 18-34 year-olds said that it is just as acceptable for a man to have cosmetic work done.

(Reporting by Edward McAllister; editing by Patricia Reaney)