Looking good is a high-maintenance job that is finding several takers among the city’s poor. Cosmetic surgery, once considered the sole preserve of the rich, is making inroads into lower middle class families as well.
Yogesh Patel, 28, (name changed) a farmer from Kadi, underwent rhinoplasty (popularly called, ‘nose job’) at a hospital in the city. Patel belongs to the lower middle class and could not afford the cost of the surgery. Yet he went under the knife and even got a discount from the doctor for the procedure.
Rajiv Joshi, 35, (name changed) is a priest at a Hanuman temple in the city. He began treatment for hair restoration after he realised that he was going bald. Joshi is shelling out money for the treatment because he wants to look good. His only source of earning is the money that the devout give him.
Meena Patel, 21, (name changed), was not well-off; yet she consulted a popular cosmetic surgeon for breast augmentation as she wanted to get married.
Looking good is a high-maintenance job that is finding several takers among the city’s poor. Cosmetic surgery, once considered the sole preserve of the rich, is making inroads into lower middle class families as well.
Doctors in the city are increasingly witnessing a trend of patients from the lower middle class coming to them for various cosmetic
procedures.
It should be noted that cosmetic surgical procedures are not covered under insurance and most of these patients shell out their own money to look beautiful.
Dr Ayyappan Thangavel, director and head, hair transplant and cosmetic surgery centre at SAL Hospital, said that of the total patients coming to him for cosmetic surgery, 20% to 35% are from the lower-middle class.
“An equal number is also from the villages. The most popular procedures among them are rhinoplasty and hair restoration among others,” said Dr Ayyappan.
On what drives even those from the lower middle class to undergo such surgeries, Dr Ayyappan said, “It is aspiration, flexibility in surgical charges and affordability. I have seen drastic changes in my patients after they had undergone a surgery. It is not just physical. There is a tremendous increase in their confidence. Their whole attitude changes,” he said.
He admitted that often those from the poorer sections of society ask for a discount. He said that society often judges us by our looks.“At times cosmetic procedures can go a long way in giving these patients an edge, be it in marriage or even job prospects,” said Dr Ayyappan.
Dr Bijal Parikh, another cosmetic surgeon, agreed and said that over the years there has been an increase in the number of patients coming from the lower middle class. “Contrary to popular belief, the middle class forms the major chunk of patients opting for cosmetic procedures. The number of lower middle class patients is also on the rise,” said Dr Parikh.
Apparently the trend is not limited to Ahmedabad alone. Dr Krishan Naygandhi, a cosmetologist from Bhuj, said a major chunk of her patients are from the Ahir community. “Not all of them are well-off; yet they come to me for laser hair removal treatments,” said Dr Naygandhi.
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