Tax on Cosmetic Surgery

[Skillet]

Last week, a 41-year-old woman who had recently had her first child walked into the office of Dr. Steven Teitelbaum in Santa Monica, Calif., for an operation that tens of thousands of women like her have undergone this year: a breast lift.



“I didn’t like the way they looked,” said the woman, Jennifer, who asked that her full name not be used because she wanted to keep her medical procedures private. “And it’s the best money I ever spent.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/30/he...0cosmetic.html



Now, I am all for this tax as I think a large portion of these procedures are ridiculous and should not be covered whatsoever by insurance in the first place.



This is the part that really gets me though:

Another argument made by some groups is that the tax would be discriminatory toward women, who make up a vast majority of cosmetic surgery patients.



Terry O’Neill, the president of the National Organization for Women, said middle-age women, who make up a bulk of her group’s financiers, would be particularly susceptible to the tax, especially now. Many who have lost jobs might be considering surgery, she said, because they are looking to impress potential employers.

This argument really made me stop and do a double take. The reason that women need no tax on Botox is so they can get a job? Please, and if that's the case isn't there a huge underlying societal issue here?



It seems to me that line of reasoning is self defeating, what do you think?

 

[Nebulous]

My grandpa had cosmetic surgery a while back. The skin from the top of his eyes was getting too loose and droopy and he was having trouble seeing because the skin was in the way all the time. So he had to get plastic surgery to get the excess skin cut off. His insurance didnt cover it as they considered it to be cosmetic, which I thought was very stupid. I didnt ask him how much it costs though.

 

[xneseyx]

the eyeball lift or whatever it's called is ok, because that enabled him to see. but going in to get a boob job to get a job? what is our world coming to!

 

[Raven]

I dont think they should tax cosmetic surjury for anything medical related. For breast lifts, tummy tucks etc all for cosmetic reasons.. I think they should be taxed.