“Boob tax” increases the price of plastic surgery in the UK

A new tax on cosmetic surgery has been passed in the U.K. Government estimates hope that it will raise up to £500 million a year. The tax, mockingly called the “boob tax”, will raised the price of cosmetic surgery by 20%, or about $1500 U.S. for an average breast augmentation.Reconstructive patients will not be charged the tax.

Needless to say, British cosmetic surgeons are none too pleased. A spokesperson for the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons was unhappy with the lack of discussion about the proposal.

I suspect that this additional cost will simply encourage potential plastic surgery patients to take a quick trip to another EU country, to get their surgery there. I think Paris is only about 2 hours away from London by the high-speed Eurostar train.