New York-based brokers, analysts and finance executives who have been axed by their blue-chip firms are turning to a blade of a different kind – a scalpel – in the hope that “quick-recovery” facelifts will help them compete.
The nation’s financial meltdown prompted boutique investment banker Jack Reilly to take action on something that had been bothering him for over a year.
“I had bags under my eyes,” said the 57-year-old.
When the banking business tanked, Reilly decided to “get in fighting form” so he could face prospective employers with confidence.
Karen Pasegio, 50, who works in insurance, had a mini-facelift to regain her youthful jawline.
“You go for an interview and the person across the desk is 25 years old. You start to doubt yourself,” she said. “The lift has given me a lot of confidence.”
Although new national figures released yesterday show that cosmetic surgery revenues across the country have dropped recently by 30 percent, Midtown cosmetic surgeon Amiya Prasad says downsized Wall Streeters looking for rapid rejuvenation are flocking to upscale dermatology offices.
“It used to that before a big interview you got a new suit. Now it’s get the suit, get your hair done, and swing by the doctor’s office,” he said.
Demand is so high that Prasad has created a Pre-Interview mini-makeover that includes Botox to erase worry lines and a filler agent that make saggy jawlines plump and youthful.
There are two rapid fixes that almost every one over 40 wants before tackling today’s tight job market, says Prasad: eyelid lifts and “quick recovery” face lift that sucks excess fat from under chins and jowls and fills laugh lines.
Job hunters who can’t pony up the $5,000 to $10,000 for these procedures are turning to more affordable temporary solutions like chemical peels and laser treatments, several Manhattan dermatologists told The Post.
“There’s definitely been a surge in business” since the economy started shedding jobs, said Craig Austin, a Manhattan-based doctor.
“Before some of these clients could have afforded plastic surgery; now they opt for peels and treatments that run in the hundreds, not thousands,” he said.
Liz Bonnano, 64, a real estate agent, is a chemical peel convert.
“I figure that as long as I keep myself looking young, I can present myself to the world like that,” said Bonnano.
“And I have sold a couple of houses recently.”
gotis@nypost.com