We know you're sick and tired of hearing about Heidi Montag's 10 surgeries in one day. But there's a chance that Heidi's frankenstein looks are doing less for her career and more to steer people clear of cosmetic surgery. A survey conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons revealed that the number of cosmetic surgeries performed in 2009 fell by 9 percent.

Heidi Montag Before and After. Photo cred: Imbringingbloggingback
Although that image is enough to scare some people off cosmetic surgery, these results likely have less to do with the fear of being mistaken for Heidi and more about cost.

Surgeries easily cost several thousand dollars - add anaesthesia and operating-room fees into the mix and we're talking big bucks. People may be more inclined to try Botox or Dysport injections because they are less-expensive and less evasive alternatives. In 2009, there were almost 4,800,000 Botox and Dysport injections administered in the United States. But although this may seem less expensive initially, upkeep is required every couple of months at an average of $405 USD a pop!

Now before you completely develop your opinions on the matter, here's some more food for thought:

A survey conducted in November 2009 by Realself.com showed that 54% of the sample study said they would have cosmetic procedures if money wasn't an issue. The same study was conducted in March 2010, and the number increased to 69%!

What do you think: is the decline a result of Americans having less disposable income in 2009? Or are we naive to think that people are accepting their looks and investing in makeup and clothing as image enhancements?