Allergan Inc. has found a reason to become united with its competitors—the Botax.

The newly proposed health reform bill includes a provision that would place a 5% tax on elective cosmetic surgeries, which include liposuction and Botox.

If Botax is approved, it will raise $6 billion. Allergan and Johnson & Johnson are preparing to lobby against this proposed tax.

“It is a random hit on an easy target that is only punitive and not corrective,” explained Allergan spokeswoman Caroline Van Hove. She says that the Botax is unnecessarily punitive for individuals who just want to improve their appearance.

Sexist arguments were also raised against the Botax. According to research, more than 84 percent of cosmetic surgery patients are female. Botax would also affect jobless women who are looking to increase their marketability for prospective employers.

However, some analysts also cite reasons why cosmetic companies can learn to love Botax. The primary reason being: it would increase the dependency of the public sector to the cosmetic companies. This will give the companies clout in the senate, and this could be used for future business decisions.

But it seems that the cosmetic companies have decided to lobby against Botax. We all just have to stay tuned to find out what happens next. 

Source: Orange County Business Journal