Here's a sign of the times: In Rio de Janeiro, poor people can get free Botox for the next nine days. The Brazilian Society of Esthetic Medicine is giving free Botox injections, laser hair removal, acne treatments, chemical peels, and varicose vein treatment. If you earn less than the equivalent of $250 a month, your aesthetic wishes are covered (temporarily, at least).
How is it free? The treatments are given by doctors and estheticians in training. I'm not sure what to think of this story. On one hand, yay for charity and giving people a bit of luxury. On the other hand, about one in four residents of Rio live in a favela, making me think that — especially in this rough global economy — poor Brazilians have much bigger concerns than furrowed brows.
Fornarina
Sign me up for some lazer hair removal
1Oh lord...there is that much poverty, and Botox is what they're giving out free? Give me a break.
2I just saw this story on the news! Craziness!
3Why not give out something actually useful? Botox out of all the things that can be offered? Really?
4Only Brazil. What's a favela?
5Brazilians (I don't want to generalize, so not all) are (or can be)ridiculously shallow (too image conscious if I were to put it differently). It's not a surprise, but disappointing nonetheless.
I also agree with Francoisehardly.
6physical beauty is really valued in brazil. theres more avon ladies than members of its armed forces.
7Hey, it's the Society of Esthetic Medicine. They are giving away what they have to give... I know it sucked when I had acne and my parents said that acne cleansers and creams were too expensive to buy.
8all these treatments are only available for 9 days? hair removal and acne treatments take a lot longer than that
9to each their own
10On the face of it, some may think that this is a frivolous way to use money for poor people, but you have to remember in the context of S. American, and Brazilian culture in particular, for women, attractiveness and youthfulness is a highly prized asset.
11No thanks!
12I agree with ranksubjugation. They're just giving away what they have to give away. More power to them...?
13Sign me up for some laser hair removal! I can't afford that stuff either.
14But other people from other South American countries are no where as extreme as this.
15That just seems crazy to me, they could help poor people so much more with something else. But whatever, it's their stuff.
16I don't really see what the big deal is.
And as for PeachyKeen19's comment...have you BEEN to Los Angeles? I have a ton of Brazilian friends, and yes, they care about looking good but we all do. They definitely don't take it to the extreme as some other places like Miami and LA.
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