Hot Topic (12/17): Is this proposed tax on plastic surgery unfair?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

Botox, facelifts may cost more as Senate eyes cosmetic surgery tax

By Sandra Block, USA TODAY

If you're considering an eyelift or tummy tuck, you might want to have it done before next year.

Last week, the Senate began debate on an $848 billion health care reform bill that includes a 5% excise tax on elective cosmetic surgery, beginning Jan. 1, 2010. The provision would raise an estimated $5.8 billion in the next decade.

The cosmetic surgery industry has mounted a vigorous effort to convince lawmakers and the public that the tax wouldn't be limited to wealthy people who are unhappy with the shape of their chins. Among their arguments:

•The tax would unfairly target middle-class women. Eighty-six percent of cosmetic surgery patients are women, and 60% have an annual income of $30,000 to $90,000, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Women face much more pressure than men to maintain a youthful appearance, says Jill Filipovic, 26, a lawyer and blogger in New York. "It's an easy choice for senators who are overwhelmingly male to tax something they probably aren't going to use," she says.

•The tax would be difficult to enforce. While the bill excludes surgery used to correct deformities stemming from an injury or disease, the distinction between cosmetic and reconstructive surgery isn't always clear, says Dr. Phil Haeck of Seattle, ASPC president-elect. For example, a nose operation to clear an individual's airways wouldn't be taxed, he says.

But if the surgeon also straightens the patient's nose, a common procedure when a patient's nose has been broken, that's considered cosmetic, he says. Such cases, Haeck says, "are going to be very difficult for the government to decipher."

•The tax would drive cosmetic surgery abroad. After New Jersey adopted a 6% tax on cosmetic surgery in 2004, many patients went to New York or Pennsylvania for procedures, says Dr. Renato Saltz, president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. A federal excise tax would have the same effect, but patients would go to Thailand, Mexico or Costa Rica, he says. "We already see a lot of complications from surgeries performed overseas," he says.

Despite the lobbying efforts, there's a good chance the tax will be in the final Senate bill, says Tom Ochsenschlager, vice president of taxation for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Few lawmakers have expressed opposition to the provision, he says, focusing on polarizing issues such as a government-funded insurance option.

* * *

Do you think this is an unfair tax?

What are your views about elective plastic surgery? 

Would you choose elective surgery (if money were not a factor)? 

[iluv2meow]

Shakes me head.

I am 38 years old and my boobs are saggy, but you know what? That is natural, nothing about me is FAKE, and I have no problem what so ever holding my true body and self.

Fact is a lot of the prpblems we suffer is based on lack of care of our own bodies, sadly to say yes it is true. Having aging spots or a few wrinkles most suffer more wrinkles due to over exposure in tanning beds or the sun, things can be avoided or less of if we took better care of our bodies.

I do take in consideration though, of situations out of control llike, scars, accidents, burns, deformancy during birth these things I think can help someone overcome trauma they have been through that they did not ask for. I myself was in a car accident as a youth and broke out my front teeth on the dashboard, it isn't fair to me as an adult I am paying 10 grand to have crowns and such put in to hold my front teeth together, I was not driving, I did not cause the accident, I was only a child... But the rest of my teeth, they are yellow, chipped up, that's fine, I did that to myself, I can live with it.

Fact is if we all lived equally and all allowed our bodies to be NATURAL in the state they come based on how well we care for our bodies, we wouldn't have such peer pressure based on beauty and stress thinking we need to look better. I take pride in my body and do my best to care for it in the best way, I would much rather see tax breaks in things like people that need heart transplant or other conditions that are life threatening, but that's me.

[smcclure2005]

I don't really care because there is nothing fake about me or my body and there never will be. I am happy with how I look. I don't really see an issue with it. Now if I got plastic surgery then I probably would be and I would think it is unfair. But I don't so I don't really care. My  opinion on elective plastic surgery is if you are that unhappy with yourself then get it by all means,but don't complain that it cost a lot of $$$. Of course it cost a lot of $$$, people are changing the way that they are supposed to look to what they want to look like.If a person is truly happy with themselves then they would not change they way that they look so money or the tax is not an issue, but I say to each there own.No I would not get plastic surgery if money was not an issue. I am 100% happy with they way I look or will look as I age.

[athenax3]

lol...I'll never have any (that I am planning on anyway) so tax away I guess. Maybe like the tax on other things deemed bad for us it will decrease the amount of people doing these types of surgeries? I don't really subscribe to that line of logic, but I suppose in theory it has some merit.

The point is I suppose that they are taxing something that you are free to NOT have. If you take issue with the tax, either don't have the surgery or go abroad for it (though I guess travel arrangements and additional potential risks make this seem silly to me). I just have a hard time mustering up much concern for this one.

I'll read the other replies and see if others have a better view or one that compels me to be a bit more concerned.

[Talee]

 Well its not usually necessary...

I am fine and dandy about cosmetic surgeries...I have implants....but like I said it isnt necessary....so go ahead and tax it, like cigarettes if you want.

I wouldnt be all that happy about it but if they need to tax something I would prefer it be on things you dont have to have to live.

[athenax3]

Quoting Talee:

 Well its not usually necessary...

I am fine and dandy about cosmetic surgeries...I have implants....but like I said it isnt necessary....so go ahead and tax it, like cigarettes if you want.

I wouldnt be all that happy about it but if they need to tax something I would prefer it be on things you dont have to have to live.

right, lol -I think that's what I was trying but failed to say.....

[bakebiscotti]

It's a luxury so it should be taxed. 

[cagnew80]

I think there is a bigger issue here than taxing a specific service. The question is, is it lawful to tax a particular service in general. WHat are taxes for? Why are they taxing plastic surgery? When someone gets a nose job, does that cost taxpayers any money? Does it cost the country anything?

Think about the reason for taxes. Does the government have a right to tax whatever they want just to pay for whatever program they want? Is that constitutional?

Remember one of the big reasons for the American Revolution- unfair taxes.

Personally, I probably won't ever need p.s.. I guess maybe if I'm in an accident and need reconstructive surgery or something.

How does the government decide what to tax? Where do they draw the line? Are they asking the people who employ them (us) if we want those taxes? Where is the tax money going?

So... today they tax plastic surgery. Maybe it doesn't effect you so you don't care... but what about when they tax something that DOES affect you? Are you going to wait to speak up until then? We have got to start thinking in broader terms and stop thinking about our own little situation/world.

The government is becoming dangerously large and out of control. It's been going this way for some time now, and if we the people don't stand up and stop it, we are going to be very sorry.

[morningdove831]

I totally agree with you! 

Quoting cagnew80:

I think there is a bigger issue here than taxing a specific service. The question is, is it lawful to tax a particular service in general. WHat are taxes for? Why are they taxing plastic surgery? When someone gets a nose job, does that cost taxpayers any money? Does it cost the country anything?

Think about the reason for taxes. Does the government have a right to tax whatever they want just to pay for whatever program they want? Is that constitutional?

Remember one of the big reasons for the American Revolution- unfair taxes.

Personally, I probably won't ever need p.s.. I guess maybe if I'm in an accident and need reconstructive surgery or something.

How does the government decide what to tax? Where do they draw the line? Are they asking the people who employ them (us) if we want those taxes? Where is the tax money going?

So... today they tax plastic surgery. Maybe it doesn't effect you so you don't care... but what about when they tax something that DOES affect you? Are you going to wait to speak up until then? We have got to start thinking in broader terms and stop thinking about our own little situation/world.

The government is becoming dangerously large and out of control. It's been going this way for some time now, and if we the people don't stand up and stop it, we are going to be very sorry.

 

[eaglemama2]

I completely agree with you.   After I was done bf both kids, I got implants, lol - with that said, UT is considerably cheaper for plastics than any other state.   Go ahead and tax away, I prefer they shelve other ridiculous taxes such as food.

Quoting Talee:

 Well its not usually necessary...

I am fine and dandy about cosmetic surgeries...I have implants....but like I said it isnt necessary....so go ahead and tax it, like cigarettes if you want.

I wouldnt be all that happy about it but if they need to tax something I would prefer it be on things you dont have to have to live.

[Talee]

Quoting eaglemama2:

I completely agree with you.   After I was done bf both kids, I got implants, lol - with that said, UT is considerably cheaper for plastics than any other state.   Go ahead and tax away, I prefer they shelve other ridiculous taxes such as food.

Quoting Talee:

 Well its not usually necessary...

I am fine and dandy about cosmetic surgeries...I have implants....but like I said it isnt necessary....so go ahead and tax it, like cigarettes if you want.

I wouldnt be all that happy about it but if they need to tax something I would prefer it be on things you dont have to have to live.

LOL I breastfed both my kids too, my daughter wouldn't leave me alone until she was about 1 year.

My poor "Almost A's" turned into inverted saggy pancake lookin things...I couldn't EVER find a bra that fit I always had to get the kind with pushups just so they would fit if that makes sense....fitted tops? LOL just looked like two empty bags where the boobs were supposed to go....and what stinks is I have a large ribcage....anyway...I just wanted "Boobs" to fill out a bra or nice shirt. Nothing Pamela Anderson or anything. If you saw me in person you would never have known.