This is not a drill: The Beverly Hills City Council has decided that elective and cosmetic surgeries are essential even in a global pandemic.
According to TMZ, the council voted 4-1 on Wednesday (April 29) to resume elective and cosmetic surgeries, allowing plastic surgeons to immediately reopen their doors to their celebrity and rich clientele. The decision was made despite the fact that the city of Beverly Hills has one of the highest COVID-19 infection rates in all of Los Angeles County.
The lone council member who voted not to reopen offices for plastic surgery reportedly called his counterparts' decision "extremely irresponsible."
Last month, Botched star Dr. Terry Dubrow told TMZ celebrities were clamoring for plastic surgery since they'd be out of the public eye for a while. "It's almost like Christmas vacation," he said, referring to the closing of non-essential businesses and nation-wide stay-at-home orders. "We're getting calls, particularly Beverly Hills, celebrities, high-profile people."
Dr. Durbow added that many celebrities were asking for facelifts and the "major overhauls" they would usually wait to do between shooting movies. However, he said he told his clients to hold off and instead get less invasive treatments like botox and/or fillers. "It's smart not to do any major procedures... because what if you have a complication and have to go to the hospital because of that complication?"
To note: Dr. Dubrow's suggestion to hold off on plastic surgery was made ahead of California's governor's stay-at-home order and before the state's now 46,500 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
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