Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery

The New Jersey Tax on Plastic Surgery

New Jersey plastic surgeons felt they were being singled out when NJ state passed a law requiring elective plastic surgery services to be taxed back in 2004. No other state in the United States allows taxes to be collected for any sort of medical procedure.

The 2004 law was passed to tax cosmetic and plastic surgery in New Jersey as an effort to raise funds in the state. Originally this law was expected to bring in over $25 million in its first year. The tax didn’t quite work as intended and only ended up pulling in about $7 million in tax fees on services provided by NJ plastic surgeons.

Governor John McGreevy signed the bill into law and it sounded somewhat reasonable at the time. The law states that only “certain cosmetic medical procedures that are directed at improving the patient’s appearance and that do not promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease.”

That means you’ll pay tax on purely cosmetic services, but not one surgeries that improve your physical health. So a New Jersey plastic surgeon can perform a rhinoplasty to help you breathe better and you will not pay any taxes on the service. If, however, a New Jersey plastic surgeon performs a breast augmentation for beauty reasons then that service may be subject to the equivalent sales tax.

The law’s text lists a number of elective cosmetic surgery procedures which are subject to the tax. Among those procedures which New Jersey now taxes are any form of cosmetic surgery, cosmetic injections, cosmetic soft tissue fillers, hair transplants, dermabrasion and chemical peels, laser hair removal, laser skin resurfacing, laser treatment of leg veins, sclerotherapy, and cosmetic dentistry.

This tax supposedly marked the first time that a tax had been imposed on any medical operation in the United States. New Jersey plastic surgeons were obviously not happy about this and many complained that this tax would continue forcing people to go to other states for their medical needs. Many plastic and cosmetic surgeons in New Jersey spoke out in the news media when the tax was first introduced.

While this is a only a New Jersey phenomenon so far, it has piqued the interest of lawmakers in other states. States such as Texas, Illinois, Washington, Arkansas, Tennessee and New York have all introduced bills to tax certain cosmetic surgery procedures, but so far none of the new laws have passed.

The original sponsor of the bill, Joseph Cryan, has since tried to get the law repealed, but the repeal has not yet received enough votes.

Only time will tell if the tax will be repealed or stay on the books in the future. For now NJ cosmetic and plastic surgeons are dealing with this tax the best they can.

About the Author

The New Jersey Plastic Surgeon Site is dedicated to helping people find, choose and work with the best New Jersey plastic surgeon for them.

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Male Plastic Surgery: Things to Note

Male plastic surgery, which totals almost $4 billion, is an expanding field. It shows that many men care about their appearance and overall well being. Men are increasingly choosing plastic surgery to maintain a youthful appearance.

Unlike women, who get plastic surgery in their late 30s, many males are choosing to get surgery later, usually in their forties, fifties and even in their sixties. Some men believe that a younger appearance will help them advance in their careers, while others believe that plastic surgery will help them find a significant other.

Some of the more popular surgeries are nose reshaping or rhinoplasty, to fix a misshapen nose, and hair transplantation to eliminate baldness. Others chose eyelid surgery to fix fine lines and wrinkles while some men choose liposuction to eliminate fat in unwanted places.

Finally, breast reduction surgery is another choice for men who want a more defined chest. Some men get pectoral implants while some teenage boys get breast reduction surgery to eliminate breasts. Many males are also getting Botox injections to eliminate wrinkles and fine lines and retain a youthful look.

Before the surgery, any candidate should consult plastic surgeons to ask for information that specifically details the procedure. The doctor should inform the patient that the outcome of the procedure for some surgeries can vary greatly, and healing ability and the outcome is never completely predictable.

The size, nature and extent of the affected area can determine the chosen treatment option and how quickly the individual recovers from the procedure. The specifics of the surgery will also vary based on the age, overall health, medical history, severity of any deformity, tolerance of specific medications, procedures, or therapies or location of the deformity.

The patient should also get a clear understanding by asking the doctor to explain the procedure and requesting references from patients who have had the procedure. Keep in mind that reconstructive procedures frequently demand complex planning and may require a number of procedures done in stages.

When reconstructive surgery is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor and the recovery time is usually minimal. Everyone heals at a different rate and plastic surgeons usually cannot pinpoint an exact date of full recovery following surgery. They can, however, give you a general idea of when you can expect to notice improvement.

Males undergoing plastic surgery may be more at risk of complication. Some complications associated with reconstructive plastic surgery may include infection, bleeding, and bruising. Make sure to consult with several qualified physicians to make sure you understand the risks.

Risk of complications may increase if a patient smokes, has skin damage from radiation therapy, decreased circulation, HIV, an impaired immune system, or poor nutritional habits. If the individual chooses a reputable doctor and follows all of the instructions, then the chances of complications severely decrease.

Many men are choosing to get surgery to retain a youthful appearance. Before a man gets plastic surgery, he should research the procedure and make sure he chooses a qualified plastic surgeon. He should follow the doctor’s advice in the recovery period to minimize complications.

About the Author

If you’re looking for a board certified surgeon who offers face lift for men, New Jersey, you will find an experienced one at the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery. You can find more information and check the before and after face lift pictures online at http://www.parkercenter.net/.

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