The Financial Post is reporting that people are turning to non-surgical cosmetic treatments in the current economic climate.

According to recent surveys by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), more patients are opting for non-surgical procedures instead of expensive surgery due to costs and the risks of taking time off work or away from a job hunt to recover.

There has been steady growth in the use of less expensive options, such as fillers and injectable treatments like Botox and Juvéderm. Of the doctors surveyed by the ASPS, 73% reported increased or stable demand for procedures like Botox, chemical peels and hyaluronic fillers. Fifty-nine per cent of patients surveyed reported that concerns about the economy have forced them to rethink plans for cosmetic surgery, with 27% looking into less expensive, non-surgical options.

One of the social forces that is keeping the demand for medical cosmetic services stable or increasing is the sense that looking younger and better helps in the job market and with professional success.

Of those surveyed by the ASPS, 73% believe, particularly in these challenging economic times, appearance and youthful looks play a part in getting hired, being promoted or winning new clients. Some patients are making direct connections between cosmetic procedures and professional success and, though the bulk of their clientele continues to be female, some doctors also report seeing more professional male patients in the last several months. Dr. Swift’s male clientele now account for 12% of his business, up from 8% before the downturn. “They want to look youthful in the boardroom,” he says. “They realize that it’s a very competitive market and that if you look tired it appears that you’re offering tired opinions or tired ideas.” (Emphasis mine.)

I was talking to a Human Resources professional the other day who told me that she did think that looks matter in the current job market. She had observed in the last several years that the business people in Toronto have shifted to a younger-looking crowd. She wasn’t sure if this was because fewer older people were working in the business district or the older people had had rejuvenating treatments.

In this day and age, aren’t we lucky that we can have non-surgical treatments to look younger and fresher without breaking the bank or enduring prolonged downtimes?