According to the most recent government statistics, U.S. employers cut 2.6 million jobs in 2008, and more than 11 million of our nation’s citizens are currently out of work. If this isn’t scary enough, the pink slips stacked even higher and faster in the month of December with 632,000 Americans losing their jobs.
Over the past year and a half, we’ve watched our country battle the collapse of our housing market and have witnessed a lending lockup that has forced America to change the way it does business.
The U.S. economy may be headed for it’s deepest, darkest, and longest recession since World War ll, and as America’s fear mounts, so does the toll this all takes on consumer confidence and spending. With a 7.2% unemployment rate, which is said to be heading to 10% by the year’s end, Americans are tightening their collective belts in an effort to make ends meet. All the while we are a country at war.
It doesn’t sound good does it? How is the small business owner, or the working man going survive this devastating economic downturn? How are we going to pay our mortgages, our car notes, and feed our families? Well if you’re asking me, my answer is this, find a way to get into the business of hair.
Interestingly enough, according to The American Society of Cosmetic Surgeons, procedures like tummy tucks, eye jobs, and breast implants are down at least 20% in response to the dismal economy. However, while the world around us is in turmoil and businesses, including cosmetic surgery practices are closing their doors daily, many of our country’s hair loss sufferers are throwing caution to the wind and investing in the future of their emotional well beings through surgical hair restoration.
The year 2008 saw more than a 60% increase in surgical hair restoration inquiries through the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons and The American Hair Loss Association. Even though the cost of an average 2000 graft hair transplant is in the ballpark of $10,000, people aren’t balking. It is apparent that even during the worst economic downturn since the 1930s, we are a nation that loves our hair!
We are all driven by our emotions. For many of us hair loss affects every aspect of our lives. Not only does it affect our interpersonal relationships, but it can affect our professional lives as well. Dealing with hair loss can compound any difficult situation, and we as hair loss sufferers will go to great lengths to alleviate the burden that many of us experience when we are unhappy with our appearance. In other words, it is my view, that the business of hair is in fact, recession proof.
With that said, even though it is clear that that our nation’s hair loss sufferers are doing more in-depth research than ever before, choosing the right hair transplant surgeon can still be an overwhelming task. American hair loss sufferers are spending, but are they spending wisely and safely?
The Internet is a virtual cesspool of misinformation when it comes to anything related to hair loss and its treatment. Unethical hair transplant marketers have been buying the public’s opinion through advertising on the radio, in the back of men’s magazines and on late night television for decades. Now a much less expensive, yet more sophisticated marketing vehicle has been created, the phony hair loss blog and the online hair transplant message forum.
It is important to always consider the source when doing your research, and remember anyone can launch a hair loss blog or hair transplant website, and control the flow of information as they see fit.
It says a great deal that even during these devastating economic times, hair loss sufferers are willing to find the money to “fix” their problem. Sadly, in my opinion, this proves even further that we as hair loss sufferers are extremely vulnerable. Remember, just because you spend the cash, doesn’t mean that you’re going to be better off. Take your time and do your homework. Check and double check your resources, and always look for The American Hair Loss Association seal before considering any product or service to treat your hair loss.
Here are two articles from The American Hair Loss Association that you might want to check out:
Phony Blogs Promote Questionable Products
Hair Transplant Dos and Don’ts
Spencer Kobren
Host of The Bald Truth Radio Show
Founder, American Hair Loss Association
Founder and Director of Consumer/Patient Affairs, International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons (IAHRS.ORG)
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