Have you cut out your Botox budget because of the falling economy?

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Have you cut out your Botox budget because of the falling economy?

January 23, 2009 - Follow me on Twitter

I think that 2000-2008 can be called the “vanity years”!!!

During the past eight years, we’ve seen non-cosmetic rejuvenation go from being Hollywood’s best kept secret to something soccer-moms in the suburbs do when kids are in school.

There has been a long list of makeover shows on TV where contestants were able to go from ugly ducklings to “beautifully reconstructed” sirens – shows like “Extreme Makeover” and “Dr. 90210″). We’ve all been invited to a Botox party and we’ve seen young women (as young as 18) not preoccupied so much about taking care of themselves because “well, there’s always Botox”. Heck, we’ve even seen straight men take up the vanity industry in the hopes that a “younger looking” version of themselves will help them hold on to that high paying corporate job or get that coveted promotion.

I still remember going in for a chemical peel consultation for my acne scars in September 2008 just to have the doctor shocked by my chart. She asked in amazement “you’re a beauty editor and you’ve NEVER had Botox or fillers done?” … to which I responded “I don’t think I need it because I don’t have wrinkles or sagging skin … to which she responded “I can always find a spot on your face to improve” – oy vey (Yiddish expression for help me)!

Now that the (financial) tables have turned for most of us, the question that is burning my tongue is “are we ready to go back to living with wrinkles”? Will vanity be the price to pay in this falling economy?

With the economy at unparalleled (well, not since the depression of 1929) levels of despair, a lot of people will have to give up their Botox Cosmetics® budget and the budget they allot to preserving their youth just to be able to keep afloat.

I recently read a fascinating article on the New York Times style page that really brought to light the severity of the current economical situation and its impact on the vanity industry.

I knew this was more than a passing trend when the article highlighted the fact that they’ve recorded two manufacturers of cosmetic medical devices that have closed as a result of steep decline in business from many plastic surgeons who used to perform back-to-back breast implant surgeries. Since breast implants were THE most popular surgery, you know that attitudes are changing in light of the economy and that means that many businesses related to the vanity industry will feel the brunt of these swift changes and many will have to shut their doors and go out of business.

I’ve highlighted some of the most interesting parts of the New York Times article below:

* According to the article, “Sixty-two percent of plastic surgeons who responded to a recent questionnaire from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons said they had performed fewer procedures in the first half of this year compared with the same period last year, according to the latest anecdotal information from the group.”

* You know things are bad when surgeons are willing to cut back on their fees in order to book openings: “At the society’s annual meeting last month in Chicago, some prominent surgeons said they had openings and for the first time agreed to negotiate fees with patients.”

* Orange Country, the land of plastic surgery (and the land of the reality show “Real Housewives of Orange County”), has seen procedures and business shrink by 30 to 40 per cent.

* Even celebrities are cutting back on their Botox budget because they fear that any overt augmentation might be de mauvais goût (seen as bad taste).

* Here’s an interesting analogy referring to the recent skyrocketing gas prices: “Cosmetic surgery is going to become the new S.U.V., something that you can do without, that is less justifiable for you and your family,” said Dr. Pitts-Taylor.”

* It’s true that some women will do whatever it takes to keep their regular Botox appointments, but for many women, cutting back on essentials just to get injections won’t be a consideration.

* Some creative women are changing their hairstyle to include a bang to hide wrinkles on their forehead and extend the life of their Botox.

* It’s incredible how social context has a huge impact on how many people make choices in their lives: “Dr. Thompson, who emphasized that he was speculating in the absence of survey data, suggested that people may also make decisions about their appearance by scrutinizing the grooming practices of their friends, acquaintances, and even celebrities, a behavior called social comparison. In terms of body image, they look around at their friends,” Dr. Thompson said. “If everyone is cutting back, they may change the norm based on what others are doing.”

* Would you consider Botox to help you land a job if you’ve been laid off? “People who would not have considered it, when they get laid off at 45, 50, 55 and are back on the job market, might consider it as they try to enhance their human capital.”

* The cosmetic surgery industry is about to change dramatically and it might take a few years to find out how 2008 has impacted an industry that seemed growing out of control until earlier last year.

Giving up the vanity budget means that a lot of people are going to have to face the mirror and accept a few more wrinkles. It will be interesting to see how hard-core-Botox-users deal with not having that disposable income anymore. It will also be interesting to see how many women are willing to sacrifice other areas of their lives in order to find the money for Botox and injection fillers.

You’ll find the entire New York Times article here: Putting Vanity on Hold

Photo by EverJean