It’s no secret that non-invasive cosmetic procedures such as Botox and hyaluronic acid dermal fillers have recently exploded in popularity, but the question remains — with whom, exactly? Injectable treatments are as accessible as ever, but does accessibility guarantee acceptance among the general population? CivicScience investigated how attitudes are currently shifting toward this once taboo sector of the beauty industry and who is participating in this trend.

Perceptions

While one could estimate that people lean sharply in one direction or another when it comes to the perception of those who desire injectable beauty treatments, our findings show that respondents are largely indifferent.

Only one-quarter of respondents felt favorably toward those seeking injectables, and that sentiment sank even lower when participants were asked to estimate peer-held beliefs, though neutrality still represented the majority attitude.

However, it’s worth noting that social media exposure plays a major role in where attitudes stand. Regular Instagram users tend to be far more accepting of those with an interest in non-invasive beauty practices, especially compared to those with infrequent to zero interaction with the app.

As we zoom out to examine the bigger picture, over half of all participants believe our culture as a whole is more accepting of these procedures, which is quite the contrast from those aforementioned individual beliefs.

Compared with race, the trend of greater acceptance largely continues across categories.

Even though injectables have become fairly commonplace in society, an overwhelming majority of respondents still acknowledge the potential risks that come along with the procedure.

When broken down by gender, respondents with a more acute acknowledgment of the risks tend to be male rather than female.

Potential

For those considering undergoing a non-invasive cosmetic procedure, nearly three-fourths claim they would not keep it a secret. This could point to a gradual lifting of the stigma that still surrounds these treatments.

Consulting with friends and family over this kind of personal choice doesn’t seem to be a priority.

When it comes to making an investment, respondents prefer to keep spending on the lowest end possible.

Participation

Those who are in the lowest earning bracket of this study are the most likely to have the most procedures completed, compared to those in the highest earning bracket, of whom the majority have only experienced one to two treatments in total.

And lastly, when it comes to age, Millennials lead the way with the highest number of non-invasive cosmetic procedures completed.

Indifferent personal attitudes, greater cultural acceptance, and limited financial barriers are all likely contributing to the injectables boom. As one Botox fan predicted in this article from The Cut, “I think we’re two steps from it being available at our favorite retailers at this point.” And if that’s the direction this trend is heading, CivicScience will be ready to report on it.