Cosmetic Surgeons Decry Tax on Their Services

According to the ASPS, the only tax on cosmetic medical procedures imposed among the states has been a 6% tax in New Jersey. ASPS said early indications are that the state has realized a 59% shortfall based on projected revenue estimates since the legislature passed the measure in 2004. At least six other states—Texas, Illinois, Washington, Arkansas, Tennessee, and New York—have had "Bo-tax bills" introduced, but none of them have actually passed.

ASPS also noted that in 2008, 12 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures would have been subject to the tax performed nationwide—a 3% increase from 2007. Of those, 1.7 million were surgical procedures, with breast augmentations (307,000 procedures; down 12% from 2007), nose reshaping (279,000 procedures, down 2%), liposuction (245,000 procedures, down 19%), eyelid surgery (221,000 procedures, down 8%), and tummy tucks (122,000 procedures, down 18%).

Approximately 4.9 million reconstructive procedures were performed last year, including tumor removal, laceration repair, scar revision, hand surgery, and breast reduction, the ASPS said. This category rose 3% from 2007 tallies.