It seems so, if Utah is anything to go by.

A cosmetic surgeon and a leading economist in the US State carried out some research last year using blind interviews with patients. They were astonished at what was found. It seems that when the economy is doing well, people are prepared to have plastic surgery; when the economy is having problems, consumers will reduce or cut out any work.

Steven Mobley, who specialises in facial cosmetic surgery, told reporters: “We’re starting to see an up trend in 2010.”

He added: “Cosmetic surgery demand dropped when the economy dropped. I think 2009 was probably the low point and then we started seeing patients come back in higher volumes.”

Echoing what Dr. Mobley said, Peter Philips who is the Economic Chair at the University of Utah said: “There are lots of signs that are showing that we are starting to recover. At the beginning of 2008, the employment fell for two years. It bottomed out at the end of 2009.”

The research does paint a bleak picture for the over 50s, who the pair say have had the hardest time economically.

Mr. Philips said: “The older patients that have probably seen their savings get demolished or their 401K’s decrease. Yes, I think we’ve hit bottom. Yes, I think we’re bouncing off that bottom. Yes, I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but there’s still a long way to go.”

The researchers also believe that it is going to take some time for the economy to return to pre recession and pre banking crisis levels of confidence.