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South Korean Housewives Forced To Live With Fewer Facelifts

The economic crisis won't even spare the real housewives of South Korea: After riding high on Botox and nose jobs, newly frugal plastic surgery aficionados are, ahem, cutting back on procedures as clinics are closing down for lack of business.

In Seoul, where The New York Times reports there are more than 600 plastic surgery clinics, 20 or so have already closed, with more posting "for sale" signs in the windows. Says one surgeon:

In hard times, people always cut back on luxuries like eating out, jewelry and plastic surgery. If this is a normal recession, then these desires will eventually get reignited, and our patients will come back.

If this downturn is like the Great Depression, then we are all going to get killed off.

The good news--for those of us spending dollars, anyway--is that South Korea has gotten about 25 percent cheaper in the last six months, as the financial crisis has shored up the value of a buck. And now that you can get more than 1,200 won for a dollar--and clinics are desperate for customers--now might be the time to check out a swanky destination hospital or clinic in Korea.

Related Stories:
· Economy Blunts Korea’s Appetite for Plastic Surgery [NYT]
· Turns Out South Korea Is Just As Shallow As Thailand [Jaunted]
· Plastic Surgery Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: DanMelinger]