The so-called “Botox-tax” that was dismissed last July is now back in the healthcare reform bill.  After it was made public Wednesday, professionals from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery organized to make their opposition to the bill known.

A special bulletin sent to ASPS members urged them to contact their representatives in congress and voice their opinions.  Many have commented in the news already, such as Dr. Jennifer Walden, who appeared on Fox News with Neil Cavuto.

Surgeons all over the country have voiced their objections; here are some of the arguments against the “elective cosmetic medical tax.”

• Discrimination: Women purchase almost 90 percent of all cosmetic medical procedures in the United States, so the tax unfairly falls on a female (middle class) demographic.  Dr. Renato Saltz calls it a “soccer mom tax.”
• Not effective: New Jersey implemented a similar tax in 2004 and it fell drastically short (59 percent) of its projected revenue.
• Attempts to make tough distinctions: the tax imposes the burden of making clear distinctions between procedures that are medically necessary and simply elective.  Who will draw the line and say when a procedure is necessary (or unnecessary) for you?
• Could promote medical tourism: Patient safety is a major priority; keeping costs down will discourage Americans from seeking risky cosmetic surgeries abroad.