It's looking good for cosmetic surgeons

BEIRUT－Amid Lebanon's ongoing financial crisis that has caused the collapse of its local currency and the reduction of salaries by a staggering 90 percent, the country's plastic surgery industry has been given an unexpected boost.

Facial plastic surgeon Paul Yazbek said the demand for his services, including the costly rhinoplasty surgery, was not impacted by the financial crisis.

While there was a noticeable drop in demand among his domestic clients, Yazbek said he was able to compensate for this drop with the increasing number of Lebanese expatriates from the United States, Australia and other countries.

"I still receive a good demand on plastic surgeries, while the average cost of a nose job in my clinic, for instance, is around $7,800," Yazbek said.

He explained that many Lebanese expatriates prefer plastic surgery in Lebanon because the plummeting Lebanese pound has made its plastic surgeries cheaper.

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Moreover, Lebanon has been recognized as one of the most popular places for plastic surgery in the Middle East, boasting advanced facilities and skillful plastic surgeons.

Nabil Fakih, another plastic surgeon, said work has actually increased in his clinic as most of his clients come from Dubai, Jordan, Iraq, Greece, Europe and the US.

He also noted that some of his local patients have saved money during the COVID-19 pandemic and have now chosen to spend their savings on physical enhancements instead of going abroad for holidays, which have become much more expensive due to the fall of the Lebanese pound.

Zeina, a young lawyer who works at a renowned law firm in Beirut, told Xinhua News Agency that even though she only earns around $264 a month, she has been making a great effort to squeeze extra money from her salary to pay for regular Botox injections, which cost $300 per shot.

"Changing my look for the better, of course, boosts my mood and self-confidence," Zeina said.

Nadia Shahrur, a university professor in social psychology, said a lack of self-confidence prompts people to ignore the ongoing crisis and focus on ways to improve their psychological well-being.

The psychologist also noted that one of the reasons behind the continuous demand for plastic surgeries in Lebanon amid a crushing financial crisis is the psychological pressure felt by people during the pandemic, which forced them to stay at home for a long time.

"People felt they wanted to compensate with plastic surgery to boost their morale and improve their image," she said.

Xinhua