[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/06/25/art.surgery.gi.jpg caption="American Society of Plastic Surgeons predicts that by 2015, 17% of all Americans will have some kind of plastic surgery."]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The good news is our life expectancy keeps going up. We're living longer and healthier lives than we ever have before. The bad news is with extra years comes extra wrinkles, sag, cellulite and a general deterioration of our otherwise stunning good looks.
Enter the cosmetic surgeon. In fact, enter a whole army of cosmetic surgeons. Americans are nothing if not vain. In the face of $4 gasoline, a possible lengthy and painful recession and economic hardship that threatens to touch everyone's lives, millions of us still manage to come up with the money and the gasoline to get to the plastic surgeon.
Just last year, Americans spent more than $13 billion for almost 12 million procedures, up from 8.5 million procedures in 2001. Surgeons say there has been a bit of a slowdown recently because of the economy, but they expect many, many more of us to go under the knife in the coming years. We may be broke, but at least we'll look good in the unemployment line.
A new study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons predicts that by 2015, the current number of procedures will quadruple to more than 55 million. It's estimated that 17% of all Americans will be getting work done – that's almost one in five people.
However, the head of this organization says they are concerned that with the predicted growth in surgery, people not take shortcuts and go only to board-certified plastic surgeons. I wonder who Joan Rivers went to.
Here’s my question to you: What does it say about our society if almost 1 in 5 Americans will be getting cosmetic surgery within 7 years?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Jon from Austin, Texas writes:
Another indicator of how vain our society is becoming. So many TV shows like Doctor 90210, Girls Next Door, Nip Tuck, and many others are force-feeding us with this idea that cosmetic surgery is necessary and glamorous. HD TV hasn't helped either. Every minor imperfection shines through with interesting detail. Do they have a survey for which country is the most vain? I'm sure we are atop the list.
David from Alexandria, Virginia writes:
It says that 20% of the people are interested in looking the best that they can and feeling better about themselves. Generally, they pay for it themselves. Good for them.
Gigi from Alabama writes:
I think that is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Our economy is going down the toilet and vain people are thinking about lifting their butts, tucking their tummies and looking like deer in headlights because of brow lifts. Whatever happened to growing old gracefully?
Dave from Brooklyn writes:
It means that Jack is one of the other 4. But it’s what’s inside that counts!
Jenna from Roseville, California writes:
It says that Americans are doing anything to look young so that they can keep their jobs. Age discrimination is alive and well here in America. Don't believe those who deny it. I've been trying to get a job for 2 years. I have 5 college degrees and over 20 yrs experience and can't even get an interview.
David from Maryland writes:
Just goes to prove what you've been saying, Jack: It’s getting ugly out there.
Jim writes:
So what are you and Wolf going to have done?
Dick writes:
It means three questions a day is taxing the ability of the CNN producers of Cafferty File.