Name it plastic patriotism.
A well-liked Lengthy Island plastic surgeon has stocked his cabinets with American-made merchandise in what he referred to as a mission to maintain prices down for sufferers through the world tariff scramble.
Dr. Mark Epstein’s observe in Hauppauge contains implants, prescribed drugs, instruments and cutting-edge medical tech.
“Just about everything I have here is American … my lasers, the finest in the world, they come from California, my imaging systems, that’s Parsippany, New Jersey,” Epstein advised The Put up.
“My experience in over 30 years of doing this is that buying American has gotten me the best supplies, the best patient outcomes, the best results,” mentioned Epstein, although he mentioned his A-list celeb purchasers would stay a secret.
The results of President Trump’s tariffs on worldwide items are reverberating within the surgical trade, in line with Epstein, who’s a diehard supporter of no. 47.
“I had a facial surgeon friend tell me that in one week, he had four people say ‘maybe right now is not the best time for my procedure,’” he mentioned.
“I think the stock market is a little bit reactive to the tariff situation, and patients are following what’s going on with the market.”
There’s additionally concern at a bigger degree.
American Hospital Affiliation President Richard J. Pollack wrote a letter to President Trump in February requesting tariff exemptions on medical provides, because the US medical trade “relies significantly on international sources.”
However Epstein believes practices that purchase overseas for non-emergency medical procedures, akin to cosmetic surgery, might find yourself passing on the price of doing enterprise to sufferers.
“If the cost of [foreign-made] Botox doubles, treatments may have to go up several hundred dollars,” mentioned the physician.
Epstein fears different hot-button procedures like breast augmentations and hair transplants may go up by a whole lot, if no more.
“I think people are still waiting and trying to figure this all out,” he mentioned.
Not only for appears to be like
If his homegrown merchandise go up in worth, Epstein mentioned he’ll personally “absorb” added prices to proceed supporting the American financial system and his clientele.
“I don’t want the patients to feel penalized because there’s some temporary economic adjustments going on,” he mentioned.
“I’m really looking forward to the long side of these tariffs to bring manufacturing back to this country, where it needs to be.”
Epstein, who has designed surgical instruments himself, swears that purchasing home is the way in which to go in any scenario.
“Every time I’m looking to buy something, it’s almost always American. It’s the best quality products, the devices, and supplies. I’ll never deter from that to chase a cheaper price,” he mentioned.
“My call to others is not to outsource as well. You get what you pay for, and if you are going to start chasing the cheapest price, you’ll be getting inferior products.”
As it’s, he’s anticipating a brighter future to return quickly.
“The last two days, the markets have already been rallying,” Epstein mentioned.
“So my suspicion is that the market is going to come back very soon and people will be relaxing again.”
