Call it plastic patriotism.
A popular Long Island plastic surgeon has stocked his shelves with American-made products in what he called a mission to keep costs down for patients during the global tariff scramble.
Dr. Mark Epstein’s practice in Hauppauge includes implants, pharmaceuticals, tools 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 told The Post.
“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,” said Epstein, though he said his A-list celebrity clients would remain a secret.
The effects of President Trump’s tariffs on international goods are reverberating in the surgical industry, according to Epstein, who is 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 said.
“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 is also concern at a larger level.
American Hospital Association President Richard J. Pollack wrote a letter to President Trump in February requesting tariff exemptions on medical supplies, as the US medical industry “relies significantly on international sources.”
But Epstein believes practices that buy abroad for non-emergency medical procedures, such as plastic surgery, may end up passing on the cost of doing business to patients.
“If the cost of [foreign-made] Botox doubles, treatments may have to go up several hundred dollars,” said the doctor.
Epstein fears other hot-button procedures like breast augmentations and hair transplants may also go up by hundreds, if not more.
“I think people are still waiting and trying to figure this all out,” he said.
Not just for looks
If his homegrown products go up in price, Epstein said he will personally “absorb” added costs to continue supporting the American economy and his clientele.
“I don’t want the patients to feel penalized because there’s some temporary economic adjustments going on,” he said.
“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 tools himself, swears that buying domestic is the way to go in any situation.
“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 said.
“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 is, he’s anticipating a brighter future to come soon.
“The last two days, the markets have already been rallying,” Epstein said.
“So my suspicion is that the market is going to come back very soon and people will be relaxing again.”
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