Give the Gift of Cosmetic Surgery for Holidays

When buying gifts for the holidays, traditional ideas include socks, shirts and gift cards for movies or restaurants. However, many gift card buyers are now expanding the scope of their gift giving and awarding their family and friends with gift cards good for cosmetic surgery.

Holiday gift cards good for cosmetic surgery are usually for a specific amount of money at a center that specializes in cosmetic treatments. The fact that they are good for a certain amount of money lets the person who receives the gift pick the cosmetic treatment of his or her choice. Many gift givers prefer to let the person getting the present pick the treatment since having cosmetic surgery is a very personal decision.

In general, the trend of giving gift cards for cosmetic procedures is growing in the United States.  In fact, the president of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) says a good number of the gift buyers are men looking for something special for the women in their lives. He also pointed out that the trend of buying gift cards for cosmetic procedures has grown at a rate of 10-15% each year for the last few years.

A combination of the growing acceptance of cosmetic treatments and holiday events is fueling the gift card trend. People gather with others they haven’t seen in a long time at holiday parties and some are looking to Botox and other cosmetic solutions to look younger and free of wrinkles at the events. The stigma of “having work done” has also diminished over the years and the general public is more open to the idea of having cosmetic treatments.

Critics say the gift card trend tends to trivialize the risks normally found in these treatments. They fear there is an assumption that no risks are involved since the opportunity to have the treatment arrived as a gift. The critics feel that any and all medical procedures need to be taken seriously.

There is also the concern that the person receiving the gift might not accept it as happily as expected. If the person doesn’t think that he or she needs any sort of cosmetic treatment, they won’t be happy and will likely not give a very good gift in return. Before buying any kind of gift card for cosmetic surgery, do some research and make sure the intended receiver of the gift really wants, or needs, a cosmetic procedure. Otherwise, there is a good chance the gift giver will receive a lump of coal in his or her stocking this holiday season.

MA