Last month, the British Association of Plastic Surgeons revealed that cosmetic surgery is down 40 per cent.

But it could be that people are turning towards non-surgical options, such as Botox - it remains the most popular treatment in London-based cosmetic doctor Dr Tijion Esho’s clinic.

There is however one surprising group of people turning to botox: professionals who need to hide their emotions.

Lawyers, psychiatrists, politicians, stockbrokers, detectives - there are certain people for whom keeping a straight face is paramount. So they’re turning to Botox.

Or, as it has been dubbed, ‘Protox’.

For people who just want a more even complexion and smoothed-out wrinkles, the ‘frozen face’ look associated with Botox is usually to be avoided.

But for professionals who particularly want to stop their facial expressions giving anything away, a frozen face is the end goal.

“Over time I’ve noticed a new wave of patients who are pursuing Botox to give them reduced or minimal expression,” Dr Esho explained to The Independent, adding that it's particularly common for people with “hyper-expressive” features who want to appear more calm or professional.

“I’ve seen a particular trend in professions such as law and banking, where patients in these careers feel that they will be taken more seriously.”

In pictures: Top 10 countries for cosmetic surgery Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Top 10 countries for cosmetic surgery In pictures: Top 10 countries for cosmetic surgery USA The USA is number one on the list of countries popular for cosmetic surgery, with a total of 1,452,356 procedures made in 2013 In pictures: Top 10 countries for cosmetic surgery Brazil Brazil came in at number two on the list, with a total of 1,491,721 procedures in 2013 Getty Images In pictures: Top 10 countries for cosmetic surgery Mexico Mexico hosted 486,499 cosmetic surgery procedures last year, placing it at number three on the list GETTY IMAGES In pictures: Top 10 countries for cosmetic surgery Germany In 2013, Germany hosted 343,479 cosmetic procedures, placing it at number four on the list EPA In pictures: Top 10 countries for cosmetic surgery Spain Spain came in at number five on the list, with 213,297 cosmetic procedures in 2013 David Ramos/Getty Images In pictures: Top 10 countries for cosmetic surgery Colombia 291,954 people had cosmetic surgery in Columbia last year. EPA In pictures: Top 10 countries for cosmetic surgery Italy 182,680 cosmetic surgery procedures took place in Italy last year, putting it at number seven on the list In pictures: Top 10 countries for cosmetic surgery Venezuela Venezuela hosted 231,742 cosmetic surgery procedures in 2013, placing at number eight on the list wmf.org In pictures: Top 10 countries for cosmetic surgery Argentina 120,652 people had cosmetic surgery in Argentina last year In pictures: Top 10 countries for cosmetic surgery Iran At the bottom of the list is Iran, with 118,079 cosmetic procedures performed in 2013 Getty Images

Botox prevents people's natural reactions from giving the game away.

“My friend, who is a psychiatrist, said she spends so much time while patients are talking to her trying to not contract [her facial] muscles, so as to not appear judgmental, that she barely hears what they're saying,” New York City-based plastic surgeon Dara Liotta, MD told Refinery 29.

“I told her to just Botox it away, so she comes in now to get rid of those lines [between the brows].”

Some women in particular turn to Botox to appear strong and counteract the stereotype of overly emotional females.

Another reason professionals are turning to Botox is to stop sweating, which is often a giveaway of nerves.

“I have some people come in who are in the public eye and have the sweaty brow or sweaty forehead and they want it just for that reason,” explains dermatologist Roy G. Geronemus, MD.

“They're embarrassed because it shows that they're nervous.”