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Sorting Fact from Fiscal Fear: What the New Pharma Tariff Really Means for Your Medspa

by | Sep 28, 2025 | Business and Operations, Financials, Industry News and Updates, Top Stories

botox and tariffs - the reality by medspa mastery
Go To Comparison Table

I’ve been getting – I wouldn’t say bombarded, but it is definitely a daily occurance – with messages about tariffs and Botox costs.

Every panic-fueled Facebook Group post seems to create a flurry of more anxiety-driven bad information that helps no one and causes unnecessary stress for all.

I’ll admit – when I first saw those posts claiming all overseas pharmaceuticals will face a massive 100% tariff starting in October, I had a bit of a moment.

But, I’ve learned to pause before panic (usually) and believe ZERO of what I read until I do my due-diligence – a good side-effect of being in the marketing industry for 752 million years.

So instead of joining the frenzy, my team and I dug into the actual details. We researched the real impact, talked to suppliers, and cut through the social media noise.

The bottom line?

Yes, there’s truth to the tariff announcement, but the doomsday scenarios floating around your social sites are way overblown. Most of your go-to injectables are actually protected by existing trade agreements.

I’m sharing what we found so you can get back to what matters – taking care of your patients instead of losing sleep over social media rumors.

Go To FAQs

1. What’s Fact: The 100% Tariff on Pharma Imports

The U.S. government officially announced a new tariff policy :

  • The Tariff: A 100% tax will be imposed on imported branded or patented pharmaceutical products.

  • The Start Date: This policy is set to begin on October 1, 2025.

  • The Exemption (The Loophole): Companies that are actively “IS BUILDING” (meaning “breaking ground” or “under construction”) a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in the U.S. will be exempt from the tax.

  • Excluded: Generic drugs are not subject to this 100% tariff.

    2. Your Injectable Protection: The EU Trade Shield

    The reason you don’t need to panic about most injectables is a critical trade agreement between the U.S. and the European Union (EU).

    Most top-selling neurotoxins and dermal fillers are made in EU countries (like Ireland, France, Germany, and Sweden). Because of this trade deal:

    • The Tariff Cap: Tariffs on pharmaceuticals from the EU are capped at a maximum of 15%, not the full 100%.

    • The Impact: This means EU-sourced injectables will likely see a 10% to 15% increase in wholesale cost, not a 100% increase. While this is a real cost increase, it’s far from the business-ending disaster that many online posts claim.

    3. Brand-by-Brand Risk: Where Your Injectables Come From

    Product Main Production Site Trade Cap Status Immediate Risk Level
    Botox (OnabotulinumtoxinA) Ireland (EU) EU Trade Cap Applies Low (~15% Cap)
    Juvéderm (HA Filler) France (EU) EU Trade Cap Applies Low (~15% Cap)
    Restylane (HA Filler) Sweden (EU) EU Trade Cap Applies Low (~15% Cap)
    Xeomin (IncobotulinumtoxinA) Germany (EU) EU Trade Cap Applies Low (~15% Cap)
    Dysport (AbobotulinumtoxinA) U.K. (Non-EU) No EU Trade Cap Moderate/Higher (Potentially up to 100%)
    Daxxify (DaxibotulinumtoxinA) United States U.S. Manufacturing Exemption None (Not Impacted)

    4. The Hidden Cost: Needles and Syringes

    While you worry about Botox, you’re already paying a huge tariff on your consumables (needles and syringes), which are subject to a separate, existing tariff policy.

    • Current Reality: Tariffs on certain syringes and needles imported from China were already raised to 100%.14

    • The Impact: This is an operational cost that adds up on every single procedure you perform, regardless of the injectable you use.

    5. Medspa Action Plan: What to Do Now

    Don’t wait to talk to your vendors. 

    Here are simple steps to protect your practice and your profits:

    • Talk to Your Brand Reps: Ask your representatives directly: “Will your company qualify for the U.S. manufacturing exemption (the 0% tariff)?” and “When is the confirmed ‘breaking ground’ date for the new U.S. plant?
    • Model the 15% Hike: Prepare your budget and pricing strategy assuming a permanent 15% increase in the wholesale cost of most core products starting next year.
    • Diversify Consumables: Immediately look for suppliers of needles and syringes that are not sourcing from the highest-tariff regions (e.g., China). This is an easy way to mitigate the current 100% tariff on supplies.

    • Educate Your Patients: If you need to raise prices (even slightly), be transparent. You can explain that the price adjustment is due to federal trade policy designed to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., not arbitrary greed.

    FAQ for Medspa Owners

    How do tariffs impact the pricing of my services?

    Tariffs increase your Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). For EU products, the likely 15% increase in your wholesale cost means you will need to raise your retail prices to maintain the same profit margin.

    Should I adjust my pricing?

    Yes. To cover a 15% wholesale cost increase and keep your business profitable, you should plan for a strategic retail price increase of approximately 3% to 8% per unit.

    How do tariffs impact the pricing of my services?

    Tariffs increase your Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). For EU products, the likely 15% increase in your wholesale cost means you will need to raise your retail prices to maintain the same profit margin.

    Are there any advantages for domestic medspas?

    Yes. Products made entirely in the U.S. (like Daxxify) are immune from these new import tariffs, giving those brands a stable, 0% tariff advantage over imported competitors.

    How do tariffs influence profit margins?

    They compress them. Since the aesthetic market is cash-pay, there is no system to absorb the cost for you. If you don’t adjust your retail price, the tariff cost will directly reduce your profit from that service.

    How do tariffs affect sourcing international products?

    Tariffs make international products more expensive to import. This pressure forces Medspas to look for domestic suppliers or diversify their international suppliers away from high-tariff regions (like China for consumables).

    What legal considerations should I be aware of regarding tariffs?

    Tariffs are a federal import tax, not a state-level regulatory requirement on your practice. The main considerations are financial (budgeting for the tax) and supply chain management (ensuring you can still source equipment).

    Do tariffs impact my licensing or certification?

    No. Tariffs are taxes on imported goods and do not change the state-level medical licensing or certification requirements for your providers or your facility.

    Works cited

    1. More tariffs by Trump: Branded pharma hit with 100% duty, and the list doesn’t end there, accessed September 28, 2025, https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/global-trends/trump-slaps-steep-new-tariffs-100-on-pharmaceutical-drugs-50-on-cabinets-30-on-furniture-25-on-trucks-from-oct-1/articleshow/124139047.cms
    2. Trump’s 100% pharma tariffs: How bad will India’s pharmaceutical exports be hit? ‘Low-cost generic model may offer cushion’, accessed September 28, 2025, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/trumps-100-pharma-tariffs-how-bad-will-indias-pharmaceutical-exports-be-hit-low-cost-generic-model-may-offer-cushion/articleshow/124154270.cms
    3. 100% on pharma products, 50% on kitchen cabinets: Donald Trump announces series of tariffs – check list, accessed September 28, 2025, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/100-on-pharma-products-50-on-kitchen-cabinets-donald-trump-announces-series-of-tariffs-check-list/articleshow/124139304.cms
    4. Trump Moves Forward with Pharmaceutical Sector Tariffs and …, accessed September 28, 2025, https://www.bhfs.com/insight/trump-moves-forward-with-pharmaceutical-sector-tariffs-and-initiates-probe-into-medical-devices/
    5. UK fuel retailers accused of ‘ripping off’ motorists at the pumps; markets shrug off latest Trump tariffs – as it happened, accessed September 28, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2025/sep/26/trump-investors-tariffs-pharmaceuticals-trucks-kitchen-cabinets-markets-uk-borrowing-costs-business-live-news
    6. US: Trump’s new tariffs to target drugs, furniture, trucks – Yahoo News UK, accessed September 28, 2025, https://uk.news.yahoo.com/us-trumps-tariffs-target-drugs-053200988.html
    7. EU deal could mean 15% tariff on pharmaceuticals | BIO, accessed September 28, 2025, https://www.bio.org/gooddaybio-archive/eu-deal-could-mean-15-tariff-pharmaceuticals
    8. 15% Tariffs Come to Pharma in New EU Trade Deal – BioSpace, accessed September 28, 2025, https://www.biospace.com/policy/15-tariffs-come-to-pharma-in-new-eu-trade-deal
    9. Revance Therapeutic Manufacturing Plant – Redwood Electric Group, accessed September 28, 2025, https://redwoodeg.com/projects/revance-therapeutic-manufacturing-plant.html
    10. Britain would face 100% tariff on pharmaceuticals under latest Trump plan, sources say, accessed September 28, 2025, https://www.lse.co.uk/news/britain-would-face-100-tariff-on-pharmaceuticals-under-latest-trump-plan-sources-say-42d69gi966onzci.html
    11. Trump’s latest tariff threat raises concerns for UK pharmaceuticals, accessed September 28, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/sep/26/trump-latest-tariff-threat-raises-fresh-concerns-for-uk-pharma
    12. Ipsen Locations | Find Us Around the World, accessed September 28, 2025, https://www.ipsen.com/contact-us/location/
    13. 2025 Med Spa Tariffs Explained: What’s Taxed, What It Costs, and How to Adapt – Workee, accessed September 28, 2025, https://workee.net/blog/med-spa-tariffs
    14. Syringe Importer Says 100% Tariff Hike Not Related to Section 301 Action, Violated Trade Act, accessed September 28, 2025, https://internationaltradetoday.com/article/2024/09/27/syringe-importer-says-100-tariff-hike-not-related-to-section-301-action-violated-trade-act-2409270025

    Tariffs, Costs, & Clients: Medspa Survival Guide | AestheticsPro, accessed September 28, 2025, https://www.aestheticspro.com/Blog/Tariffs-Survival-Guide/

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