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‘No One Needs Botox in a Pandemic.’ But Some in Beverly Hills Are Now Getting It. ‘No One Needs Botox in a Pandemic.’ But Some in Beverly Hills Are Now Getting It.
(8 days later)
With a hoodie over her ears, a surgical mask over her nose and an eye on the clock — “I have four boys under the age of 12, and they’re home-schooling” — 42-year-old Ally Sample was making up for lost time at her Beverly Hills plastic surgeon’s office on Friday.With a hoodie over her ears, a surgical mask over her nose and an eye on the clock — “I have four boys under the age of 12, and they’re home-schooling” — 42-year-old Ally Sample was making up for lost time at her Beverly Hills plastic surgeon’s office on Friday.
“I just have these lines up here,” she said, peering into her cellphone’s camera. “See?”“I just have these lines up here,” she said, peering into her cellphone’s camera. “See?”
She touched the space above her eyebrows, tracing yet another downside of the coronavirus pandemic: Stay-at-home orders had blocked her regular Botox injection. That is, until the Beverly Hills City Council came to her rescue this week.She touched the space above her eyebrows, tracing yet another downside of the coronavirus pandemic: Stay-at-home orders had blocked her regular Botox injection. That is, until the Beverly Hills City Council came to her rescue this week.
In a decision that aligned a local ordinance with state public health guidance, Beverly Hills on Tuesday rescinded a city moratorium on elective surgery, clearing the way for the city’s cosmetic surgeons to reopen immediately.In a decision that aligned a local ordinance with state public health guidance, Beverly Hills on Tuesday rescinded a city moratorium on elective surgery, clearing the way for the city’s cosmetic surgeons to reopen immediately.
Councilman Julian Gold, an anesthesiologist, said the move was prompted by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement earlier that day of a phased plan for reopening the state’s economy for business. Beverly Hills had preceded the state in enacting social distancing regulations, and its March 16 ordinance had gone further than the rest of California in halting medical procedures that might take beds and equipment from patients infected by the virus.Councilman Julian Gold, an anesthesiologist, said the move was prompted by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement earlier that day of a phased plan for reopening the state’s economy for business. Beverly Hills had preceded the state in enacting social distancing regulations, and its March 16 ordinance had gone further than the rest of California in halting medical procedures that might take beds and equipment from patients infected by the virus.
But as California has begun to flatten its curve, Dr. Gold said, the city’s physicians and surgery centers have sought to resume seeing other patients, many of whom have deferred colonoscopies, heart valve replacements, angioplasties and other treatments.But as California has begun to flatten its curve, Dr. Gold said, the city’s physicians and surgery centers have sought to resume seeing other patients, many of whom have deferred colonoscopies, heart valve replacements, angioplasties and other treatments.
“At some point, forcing people to delay necessary health care is irresponsible,” he said, “even if it’s just a routine dental exam.”“At some point, forcing people to delay necessary health care is irresponsible,” he said, “even if it’s just a routine dental exam.”
Alas, that is not the narrative the public has picked up on, said Councilman John Mirisch, who cast the sole no vote. In a city known for its beautiful people and their service sector, he warned the council on Tuesday, “elective surgery” surely would be construed to mean “cosmetic surgery.”Alas, that is not the narrative the public has picked up on, said Councilman John Mirisch, who cast the sole no vote. In a city known for its beautiful people and their service sector, he warned the council on Tuesday, “elective surgery” surely would be construed to mean “cosmetic surgery.”
“I think it would be extremely irresponsible of us and it would send a terrible message to the world if the first thing we do is start allowing boob and butt jobs to happen again,” Mr. Mirisch told the Council.“I think it would be extremely irresponsible of us and it would send a terrible message to the world if the first thing we do is start allowing boob and butt jobs to happen again,” Mr. Mirisch told the Council.
Since then, he said Friday, he has gotten an earful, both from constituents concerned about the virus’s potential spread and from medical offices reporting landlords who are using the vote to subtly pressure them to reopen.Since then, he said Friday, he has gotten an earful, both from constituents concerned about the virus’s potential spread and from medical offices reporting landlords who are using the vote to subtly pressure them to reopen.
“This is having unintended consequences,” Mr. Mirisch said. “No one needs Botox in a pandemic.”“This is having unintended consequences,” Mr. Mirisch said. “No one needs Botox in a pandemic.”
He cited a direct message he had just received on Instagram from an employee in a plastic surgery office who was worried about becoming infected if she returns to her workplace.He cited a direct message he had just received on Instagram from an employee in a plastic surgery office who was worried about becoming infected if she returns to her workplace.
“Thank you for your insight and for voting what is right and safe,” she wrote, decorating her note with moneybags and face-palm emojis. “You wouldn’t believe the number of people calling to make injection appointments right now.”“Thank you for your insight and for voting what is right and safe,” she wrote, decorating her note with moneybags and face-palm emojis. “You wouldn’t believe the number of people calling to make injection appointments right now.”
Steven Teitelbaum, the former president of the California Society of Plastic Surgeons, said patients at his practice in nearby Santa Monica have continued to call throughout the state’s shutdown, hoping to schedule cosmetic procedures. “But,” he added, “the Beverly Hills vote doesn’t change anything.”Steven Teitelbaum, the former president of the California Society of Plastic Surgeons, said patients at his practice in nearby Santa Monica have continued to call throughout the state’s shutdown, hoping to schedule cosmetic procedures. “But,” he added, “the Beverly Hills vote doesn’t change anything.”
“No mainstream surgeon I know sees this as any green light,” Dr. Teitelbaum said. “We’re still bound legally and ethically by the directives of the governor and the ethics of the profession.” And, he noted, even Mr. Newsom specified when he unveiled his plan for the state’s economy to reopen that cosmetic surgery was not approved in the early phases.“No mainstream surgeon I know sees this as any green light,” Dr. Teitelbaum said. “We’re still bound legally and ethically by the directives of the governor and the ethics of the profession.” And, he noted, even Mr. Newsom specified when he unveiled his plan for the state’s economy to reopen that cosmetic surgery was not approved in the early phases.
“My office is shut, and I’m going to stay shut until the stay-at-home order is lifted,” he said, adding that his practice, except for emergencies, is mostly telemedicine for the moment, and that most of his Beverly Hills colleagues have the same plan.“My office is shut, and I’m going to stay shut until the stay-at-home order is lifted,” he said, adding that his practice, except for emergencies, is mostly telemedicine for the moment, and that most of his Beverly Hills colleagues have the same plan.
Not all, though.Not all, though.
The doctor was in on Friday in Arash Moradzadeh’s office, where he was working to finally reschedule a backlog of 40 operations.The doctor was in on Friday in Arash Moradzadeh’s office, where he was working to finally reschedule a backlog of 40 operations.
Updated August 17, 2020 Updated August 24, 2020
Swathed in gloves, a protective gown, a face mask and a face shield, Dr. Moradzadeh said the council’s decision had allowed him “in a very, very small way” to get back to work after a month and a half of being sidelined. The lost income, he said, forced him to furlough four employees.Swathed in gloves, a protective gown, a face mask and a face shield, Dr. Moradzadeh said the council’s decision had allowed him “in a very, very small way” to get back to work after a month and a half of being sidelined. The lost income, he said, forced him to furlough four employees.
He said he had been interviewing patients over the phone to trace their contacts before seeing them in person. “They can’t bring friends, they have to wear a mask, too, and even then, the consult is greater than six feet apart,” he said.He said he had been interviewing patients over the phone to trace their contacts before seeing them in person. “They can’t bring friends, they have to wear a mask, too, and even then, the consult is greater than six feet apart,” he said.
Those who go through with surgery will be tested three days before for the coronavirus and will have to self-isolate at home for a week after. For extra safety, he said, he plans to operate in a local outpatient center rather than his office. His first post-shutdown surgery, he said, is a May 6 rhinoplasty, one of four procedures he has scheduled that day.Those who go through with surgery will be tested three days before for the coronavirus and will have to self-isolate at home for a week after. For extra safety, he said, he plans to operate in a local outpatient center rather than his office. His first post-shutdown surgery, he said, is a May 6 rhinoplasty, one of four procedures he has scheduled that day.
Until then, he said, he has been seeing regulars like Ms. Sample, who said she had demanded the first available appointment when she heard the city order had been lifted.Until then, he said, he has been seeing regulars like Ms. Sample, who said she had demanded the first available appointment when she heard the city order had been lifted.
“I’m like overly overdue,” she joked, adding that she was a month late for her quarterly regimen. “All my friends are calling their doctors, too.”“I’m like overly overdue,” she joked, adding that she was a month late for her quarterly regimen. “All my friends are calling their doctors, too.”
Other than for medical care, she said, she has not ventured outside her Los Angeles home. She has been having her groceries delivered.Other than for medical care, she said, she has not ventured outside her Los Angeles home. She has been having her groceries delivered.
“I doubt other people notice as much as I do,” she said, laughing.“I doubt other people notice as much as I do,” she said, laughing.
“But when I look in the mirror, I just feel so self-conscious. You wanna look your best, right? Even if no one sees you.”“But when I look in the mirror, I just feel so self-conscious. You wanna look your best, right? Even if no one sees you.”