If Laurie Essig speaks the truth, it’s time to change the way we think about plastic surgery. The idea that cosmetic surgery belongs to the “Beverly Hills Housewives” and their affluent counterparts may be more myth than fact. According to Essig, assistant professor of sociology and gender studies at Middlebury College, as reported by Salon.com, people earning less than $60,000 per annum make up the majority of plastic surgery patients.

Essig thought that the recession would be the kiss of death to the plastic surgery industry. But by the time she put pen to paper, she was in for a big surprise. In researching her book, “American Plastic: Boob Jobs, Credit Cards, and Our Quest for Perfection,” Essig discovered that not only is plastic surgery stronger than ever, but it is also becoming more and more a part of every man’s beauty regime.

According to Essig’s research, much of this surgery is paid for with credit. Essig contends that even if you earn $23,000 a year, you can make a credit arrangement for plastic surgery. As an example, she points to young transgender people in their 20s with student loan debt who had all undergone breast reconstruction surgery to make their chests look more masculine.

Essig interviewed plastic surgeons and a cross section of their patients, including postal workers, transgender college grads, sex workers, laid-off workers and stay-at-home moms. Quoting statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Essig states that cosmetic surgery procedures went down only 2 percent in 2009, contradicting media projections that the recession would be the end of plastic surgery. Nonsurgical procedures, such as fillers and Botox have actually gone up. Essig explains this phenomenon simply. People feel that, “If I invest in a facelift I am more likely to keep my job or husband.”

If you have any questions about cosmetic surgery procedures, including financing, contact a board-certified plastic surgeon at the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.