Proposed ‘Botax’ Would Be Unfair to Women

Today, blogs, news outlets and radio shows have been discussing a proposed cosmetic surgery tax being introduced to finance health care reform.

Top of the Ticket, a Los Angeles Times blog, claims the tax would be a 10% charge tacked onto elective procedures like a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, and other popular cosmetic enhancements. Blog writers at the Speaker’s Lobby say the idea came from a treasury department official, and that the proposal is supposedly “off the table” for now.  Apparently, most finance committee members are not even aware of the tax proposal.

The so-called ‘Botax’ is being contested in many different ways, but here are two arguments that are being reiterated most.

First and foremost, such a tax would be paid almost entirely by women.  Despite the growing popularity of cosmetic surgery for men, women still make up over 90 percent of the patient demographic in the United States.  Obviously, imposing a tax such as the one in question would unfairly discriminate against women.  Think about it this way: would a tax be imposed on men who purchase expensive tattoos, fashionable clothing, or bodybuilding equipment?  It doesn’t seem likely.

Second, a common misconception that’s probably at work here (which may have been true in the past) is that only the rich and famous pursue cosmetic surgery.  Let’s not forget the 2004 survey conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons; it revealed that nearly “a third of people considering plastic surgery reported average household incomes below $30,000.” Also, perhaps you remember the New York Times story by Natasha Singer titled “Who Is the Real Face of Plastic Surgery?” in which Ms. Singer discussed the fact that many patients choose to finance their cosmetic procedures like they would a new car.