Rise in the Numbers of Men Having Botox

Cleverly nicknamed ‘brotox’ or ‘boytox’ by the media, more and more men are starting to have Botox injections in an effort to look more like the celebrities they look up to, such as Simon Cowell and George Clooney. The sudden boost in the numbers of men having Botox, UK clinics have found, isn’t just for reasons of vanity. In fact, the current economic climate also plays a large part.

With jobs continuing to be scarce, men are starting to think that making the most of their appearance to look younger and healthier will give them the advantage they need, especially in jobs where more employees are younger, such as in the advertising industry.

Another reason for the increase could also be down to higher divorce rates across the country. As couples separate and men find themselves suddenly single again, they want to improve their appearance to give themselves a better chance. Having treatments such as Botox gives them an increase in confidence and self-esteem. In fact, clinical trials suggest that there is a link between positive moods and Botox, with a study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology demonstrating that paralysing the facial muscles used in frowning leads to less facial feedback for negative emotions. As a result, it is harder to remain in a negative state.

45-year-old Steve Slaughter from Manchester has been having Botox injections regularly for the last five years. He feels that this helps him to keep up with younger men, saying: “There’s a constant need to look good and when I first had Botox I felt as though I looked healthier. After seeing my results, some of my friends have had it too. I don’t think anyone can criticise a man for wanting to look and feel good about himself.”

Not all men are choosing to have Botox to get rid of wrinkles and frown lines, however. It isn’t just a cosmetic treatment, but can also help with other problems such as migraines and underarm sweating. Men with high pressure jobs, such as city workers, managers and bankers, are now aware that they don’t have to suffer from sweaty armpits when trying to broker a deal, chair a meeting or deliver a presentation. Botox can be used instead to block the signals from being transmitted from the nerve endings to the sweat glands and one in five Botox-users are now men.

Botox can also be used to treat other medical conditions such as incontinence, muscle spasms and urinary retention. As an anti-wrinkle treatment, a 15-minute session takes roughly a week to start working, with the effects then lasting between four and six months. Through regular treatment, results can last even longer.

If you’d like to discuss whether Botox could work for you, visit our London cosmetic surgery clinic for a consultation with one of our specialists. As Botox is a prescription only medicine, you can only have this treatment if you have had a thorough medical consultation with a professional in the field. This is why you should always visit a reputable clinic with a good reputation.