The credit crunch has had an impact on the cosmetic surgery market, with practitioners reporting a noticeable switch from permanent invasive surgery to temporary solutions, reports suggest.

Patients are determined to look their best but perhaps cannot afford cosmetic surgery, so are relying on non-surgical procedures to tide them over until they are in a more comfortable financial position.

Dr Rod Rohrich, chairman of plastic surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre, told the Dallas Morning News: "What I see is patients using more fillers and Botox in substitution for surgery.

"They're downgrading what they would normally get."

There may also be ways to save money on procedures, according to Dr Bill Johnson of Innovations MedSpa.

He told the news provider: "I'm a lot more likely to give you a discount if you're willing to schedule your procedure on a Monday or Tuesday," adding that people with more flexibility in their diaries might also be able to save money by taking a last-minute booking if someone else cancels their appointment.

In the UK, cosmetic surgeons have reported a rise in demand for Botox among 45 to 65-year-olds who are keen to look young in job interviews, with the Harley Medical Group witnessing a 51 per cent year-on-year increase in treatments.