Giving the Gift of Self Confidence this Christmas

For an increasing number of women, the item on the top of their Christmas list is not jewelry or chocolates, but a boost to their self-image. St. Luke's Plastic Surgery Associates has seen a growing trend of women visiting the clinic during the holiday season.

Procedures such as Botox® injections, laser treatments and Juvéderm™ gel are popular among women whose social calendars are full at this time of year, says board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Wade Kubat.

"There's a lot of pressure at this time of the year for women and men and they want to do something for themselves," said Dr. Kubat. "They may be meeting family or friends that they haven't seen for a while, and they want to put their best foot forward."

For some women, that can mean taking a few minutes out of their day for a non-surgical cosmetic treatment.

"There's virtually no down time at all," said Dr. Kubat. "People come in over their lunch break."

He says the clinic typically sees a busy period in the weeks after Thanksgiving, as he recommends scheduling non-invasive procedures 10-14 days before a social event. This year, the clinic is hosting a Holiday Special event, on December 13, when clients can drop in without an appointment to receive Botox® and Juvéderm™ treatments.

The increasing popularity of plastic surgery is not simply a St. Luke's trend. In 2011, more than 12 million cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures were performed nationally, up 123 percent from 11 years ago, according to figures from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Michelle Bohlman, one of the clinic's two licensed medical aestheticians, who performs laser treatments and advises on medically-based skincare products, says she sees an increase in clients – and gift certificate sales – this time of year.

"They want to look extra fabulous for the holiday period," she said. "From now until the week just before Christmas, it will be just crazy. Now we are getting the calls from the spouses, saying, 'What can I get my wife for Christmas?'"

Posted to website: December 4, 2012