By Carol DempsonJune 19, 2013
Brotox? Is Botox for Men on the Rise?
Looks like women aren’t the only ones that want to turn back the clock and fight off those wrinkles.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, within the last 10 years there has been a 258% increase in the number of men turning to Botox to rid themselves of fine lines and wrinkles.
Dr. Stephen B. Baker, program director over the department of plastic surgery at Georgetown University Hospital explains, “I think the stigma of it to men has dropped. These days, you can get it done everywhere but a gas station, and maybe in some states even there.”
Could this be the beginning of a new “brotox” era?
Why Men Are Turning to Botox
In a study cited by CBS News, “men win the wrinkle war,” experiencing fewer wrinkles than their female counterparts. With fewer sweat and sebaceous glands and blood vessels to keep the skin healthy, women tend to have more wrinkles and deeper lines than men around the mouth and nose.
But that doesn’t stop men from turning to Botox for fine lines elsewhere.
As it turns out, the statistics are showing that men are using Botox to smooth out furrowed brows, forehead lines, and wrinkles between the eyebrows in order to look less angry. Rather than getting a complete makeover, men are more likely to request spot treatments instead.
Dr. John Sherman, assistant professor of surgery at Weill Cornell medical College adds, “Men want a little more subtlety than women. They want movement of the face, but they don’t want deep furrows in their forehead.”
For some, Botox can even be seen as a career investment, making an individual look more approachable, such as a salesman who needs to look friendly and trustworthy or an attorney who needs to persuade judges in the court room.
What to Expect from Botox
Botox treatments can cost anywhere from $200-$300 for men, and patients have to receive multiple treatments before seeing any results. No anesthetic is required, and the treatment can take as little as 15 minutes with minimal recovery time. The injections are not particularly painful, and potential side effects include mild irritation to the skin.
Because men have stronger and more bulk musculature, it may take a higher dose of Botox in order to get the same wrinkle-fighting effect. However, many doctors have to exercise caution before treating a male patient because injecting too much Botox in the brow area can give an arched an immobile appearance and too much close to the crows’ feet can give a permanently “wide eyed” look that can be embarrassing to a male patient.
Fortunately, Botox isn’t a permanent procedure like a facelift or other cosmetic surgery. “The nice thing about Botox is, it wears off,” Dr. Sherman explains, “it’s reversible, so if you have a complication it’s not forever.”
Is Brotox Worth it?
Botox is becoming a quick and convenient way for both men and women to enhance their physical appearance and fight off wrinkles. It’s fast and the procedure is as simple as “getting a cavity filled.” Yet considering that there is less pressure on men to fade wrinkles and it costs hundreds of dollars per treatment, do you think it’s worth it?
Statistics say 64% of patients say yes, but what do you think?
