As the economy slows, Botox popularity grows

August 14th, 2008, 6:01 am · Post a Comment · posted by Colin Stewart

Botox Can it be true that people are turning to Botox to cure their recessionary blues?

That’s a plausible explanation for the latest statistics from the American Society for Dermatological Surgery. (To register your position on the issue, take our survey on your own Botox use.)

In a survey of that medical society’s members, 40 percent said their Botox wrinkle-fighting business is up from six months ago. A further 48 percent said they’ve seen no change. That leaves only 12 percent with declining business.

Yet, at the same time, 44 percent did admit to a drop in an important aspect of their business. That’s the percentage who said their existing patients are taking more time between visits, which might be “a way of handling economic strain without having to do without,” the society said in a press release.

Irvine-based Allergan, which makes Botox, is seeing a similar trend. The company’s market research shows that more people in the United States are using Botox, but the average length of time between injections has risen to six-and-a-half months, about a month longer than before, said David Pyott, Allergan’s chairman and chief executive.

Botox use is still growing in the U.S., but more slowly than before, he said.

Put those all together and here’s what you get, on average:

People who already were using Botox are spacing out their injections to save money.
Other people, who hadn’t been using Botox, have started using it. Perhaps they’re following the frequent — and frequently disputed — advice to turn to cosmetic medicine to help them put their best face forward when they’re applying for a job.

Where do you stand? “In Your Face” is conducting our own survey of whether people are using more Botox or less Botox during this time of economic uncertainty.

As for local cosmetic doctors, several physicians in Orange County said in the spring that their Botox business was holding steady or increasing.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Donald Altman of Irvine said his Botox figures were the same as last year. Dermatologist Dore Gilbert of Newport Beach said his Botox work was up 17 percent. Dermatologist Dr. Laurie Klein of Laguna Niguel said her Botox business was booming.

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