International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery Responds to Proposed Vanity Tax on Cosmetic Surgery

The ISHRS has found that the desire for more hair is still strong, even in tough economic times.

August 2009

The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) the world's leading medical authority on hair loss and hair restoration today issued a statement in response to the federal government's proposed tax on cosmetic surgical procedures in order to help offset the massive cost of health care reform.

The ISHRS believes the 10 percent tax on cosmetic surgery, including elective cosmetic procedures such as hair transplants, would unfairly hurt a disproportionate number of working and middle-class men and women who seek help for hair loss to improve their self-esteem and their competitive edge in today's tough job market.

"We know from previous research that the median income level of people undergoing hair restoration surgery is $69,700.00," said Edwin Epstein, MD, president of the ISHRS. "Clearly, it's not just the wealthiest men and women getting hair transplants, but average, hard-working people who are tired of suffering from hair loss. This type of tax is simply bad medicine and would hurt millions of people who undergo cosmetic procedures for personal and professional reasons."

The ISHRS has found that the desire for more hair is still strong, even in tough economic times. In a recent online consumer survey conducted by the ISHRS, 59.8 percent of people who were asked whether they would rather have more hair, more money or more friends chose more hair.

Specifically, slightly more women (64.2 percent) than men (59.1 percent) indicated they wanted more hair than more money or friends.

An estimated 80 million American men and women suffer from male or female pattern hair loss.

Since hair is universally viewed as a sign of youth and vitality, hair loss can cause a diminished sense of self-esteem and poor self-image that can significantly impact one's overall quality of life.

Founded in 1993, the ISHRS is a non-profit medical association dedicated to the advancement of the art and science of hair restoration.

With a membership of over 750 physicians worldwide, the ISHRS provides continuing medical education to physicians specializing in hair loss and restoration surgery and serves as a resource for the public on the latest medical and surgical hair restoration treatments for hair loss.

For more information and to locate a physician, visit www.ishrs.org.