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Discuss this article (0 Comments)Plastic fantastic
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Monday, 05 May 2008
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Low prices are encouraging clients to visit plastic surgeons in their droves. "My clients range from 16 to 60," says Dr Kodeih, who says his most popular surgeries are rhinoplasty for his younger clients and breast augmentation and liposuction for older customers.
"Even if they can't afford surgery in the first place, they take out loans," he adds.
Last year shiny billboards featuring smiling young women across the war-torn city of Beirut, offering bank loans for plastic surgery made headlines.
The bank in question was the First National Bank, which offered men and women the chance to change their lives forever by offering loans between US$1,200 to US$5,000 to cover "all your plastic surgery operations and orthodontics.
Billboards featuring smiling young women across the war-torn city of Beirut offering bank loans for plastic surgery made world headlines.
When the billboards were first plastered across the city, the bank claimed to be taking over 200 calls per day with women desperate for Angelina Jolie style lips and Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe's breasts and nose.
"Demand for these loans has increased by about 35% since we launched in May 2007," says Georges Nasser, head of the bank's marketing department. "The only requirements are for applicants to be over 17 years old, and with a minimum monthly salary of US$600.
As with most things which seem to good to be true, Dr Kodeih warns those wishing to visit Beirut for surgery to be careful, as the increase in popularity of surgery is also contributing to a number of unqualified surgeons setting up shops.
These doctors, he says are not insured, have little or no experience and will often end up costing a client more in corrective surgery.
"Incomes are far less in Lebanon so price is very important. People are not educated on the difference between a good surgeon and a bad one," he explains.
"Botox in a salon at US$100 may seem cheap but the substance probably comes from China or Korea and is not as good. I often [find myself explaining] to people that it's a far less superior substance."
"There are a lot of unregistered doctors," he continues. "Many doctors are doing work they shouldn't be doing and are not responsible until they make a mistake."
Doing your research and asking for referrals are the safest ways to ensure you don't end up paying extra for corrective surgery. "At the end of the day if you have bad surgery, you end up paying more to correct it," says Dr Kodeih.
One person who certainly won't be heading to the bank or the operating table any time soon is Dana. "Do I like my new nose? I love it," she says.
Plastic surgery costs
Beirut (US dollars)
1,500 - 3,000 nose job
2,000 - 5,000 body liposuction
3,000 - 4,000 breast augmentation
US (US dollars)
5,000 - 10,000 nose job
6,000 - 8,000 liposuction
5,000 - 7,000 breast augmentation
Beirut (US dollars)
1,500 - 3,000 nose job
2,000 - 5,000 body liposuction
3,000 - 4,000 breast augmentation
US (US dollars)
5,000 - 10,000 nose job
6,000 - 8,000 liposuction
5,000 - 7,000 breast augmentation
RELATED LINK: Trading faces
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