Latest news with #BarbieBotox
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Women are getting a risky and bizarre type of cosmetic tweak to look like K-pop stars - and it's not on their faces
Growing numbers of women are undergoing a bizarre cosmetic procedure to sculpt their necklines and make their shoulders appear slimmer and 'more feminine'. Demand for so-called Barbie Botox—which involves injecting botulinum toxin into the trapezius muscles at the base of the neck—has soared, say beauty industry insiders. Botox, best known as an anti-wrinkle jab, works by temporarily paralysing muscles. When high doses are used in the trapezius, the muscle relaxes and reduces in size, creating a longer neck and more delicate, doll-like silhouette—hence the name. The latest trend exploded after Korean content creator Yunny, who has 47,000 Instagram followers, posted a video of herself getting the injections, saying she was inspired by the slender look of K-pop group Blackpink. However, doctors warn the procedure carries risks. Because large doses of Botox are required to achieve the effect, patients can suffer muscle weakness, flu-like symptoms and even visible asymmetry. Dr Parisha Acharya, lead cosmetic surgeon at Waterhouse Young clinic in London, told CNN: 'When Botox is injected into a muscle, it stops the connection to the nerve. 'Over time it leads to a weakening and paralysis of the muscle. Indirectly the muscle shrinks away.' During the procedure, a clinician injects the toxin into the most prominent part of the trapezius, then places further shots in a square-shaped pattern towards the back. Experts stress this should only ever be carried out by qualified medical professionals. But if administered incorrectly, Dr Acharya warns, the procedure can paralyse the muscle completely. 'This can be quite significant because it can affect your ability to hold your head up properly,' she said. Experts have sounded the alarm over the surge in women seeking the treatment purely for cosmetic reasons, fuelled by TikTok videos. They warn it could leave some with permanent muscle damage. Dr Acharya added: 'In the UK, the aesthetic industry is poorly regulated. So shockingly anyone can administer botulinum toxin injections. 'That could be a beautician or hairdresser with no clinical experience, no anatomy knowledge. It really does worry me.' She also pointed out the irony of the trend being dubbed 'Barbie Botox' in the wake of Greta Gerwig's feminist reimagining of the doll—at a time when women are still being held to unrealistic beauty standards. She said: 'We were moving away from sexualising women's bodies and thinking of them as just objects. 'I don't like the fact that this trend is using Barbie to say we should have slim necks.' Common reasons touted for undergoing the procedure included a desire to look slimmer, with many adding that sagging skin from dieting and natural ageing had made the area more noticable. But some women have reacted at shock at the procedure, claiming it is a massive set-back. 'At this rate, people are going to end up getting fillers all over their bodies', one TikTok user said. Prices for the procedure vary among clinics, with effects usually lasting between three and six months. Harley Street Skin Clinic say their Barbie Botox starts at £750 a session, but can be more depending on how many units of Botox are needed. Like all surgical procedures, however, the cosmetic treatment carries risk. It comes as shocking new figures published this year show demand for almost all types of cosmetic surgery have risen in the past year, with the biggest increase seen in thigh lift operations. According to the data, from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), last year saw a 24 per cent increase in patients undergoing the op. Brow, eye and facelifts are also surging—with the operations often touted as the only way to remedy dramatically sagging, prematurely aged 'Ozempic face'. BAAPS vice president, surgeon Anthony Macquillan said: 'Post-Covid, we've observed a shift in patient priorities, with a greater focus on both mental and functional health. 'This may explain the rise in procedures like abdominoplasties and breast reductions, which offer both physical and psychological benefits. 'At the same time, the increase in facelifts could be linked to societal changes, such as the rising pension age and the desire to remain relevant in the workplace. 'For many, this type of surgery is not just aesthetic but also functional helping to maintain confidence, secure employment, and reduce anxiety associated with age-related bias.'
The Citizen
02-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Getting help with Botox
There's a certain shame in admitting to getting help with the ole bodywork, be it Botox, fat jabs, fillers… Have you heard the one about the woman who got Botox? Probably not, because it's rarely talked about. However, I was with some friends the other day and after a bit of wine and a lot of cheese – or vice versa – the question of Botox finally came up. We are all women of a certain age, with inevitable city miles and wear and tear on the upholstery, and yet we've never had that conversation. I like to think it's because we have more interesting things to talk about, but I suspect it's that there's a certain shame in admitting to getting help with the ole bodywork, be it Botox, fat jabs, fillers… ALSO READ: 5 tips that can help you look younger (no Botox required) But the honesty of the moment kind of broke my heart. Consider this. One woman works in the tech industry, already skewed male and youthful, though she is neither. One day, she overheard a colleague who had been professionally undermining her talking to their shared boss, saying how tired she was looking, the implication being she wasn't up to the task, that she was struggling. Not true, but now it was out there, a seed planted. 'I wasn't going to let that idiot beat me,' said our friend, so off she went for gentle Botox – eyes, forehead – with a top-up every few months. She looks fantastic, as ever, but now she feels all-conquering too. Bonus: her (clueless) partner fancies her more. ALSO READ: How to make your own homemade 'botox' Then there's the woman whose husband died suddenly a few years back. They were a childless couple by choice, devoted to each other alone, and in a second, it was all gone. She was cut to the core by his loss, so broken that her grief became etched on her face as a slash of pain down her forehead and between her eyes. Widow face, she called it. As she started to pick up the jagged pieces of her life, the crease stayed put, heartbreak made physical, so every glimpse of herself in the mirror would send her straight to that dark place again. She had Botox so that 'widow' wouldn't become her identity. She's not a merry widow yet, but she feels better about herself. So if a tweakment can improve your mental health, why not? I'm not there yet – and 18 years younger in my picture here – but if there's ever a new smooth picture, you'll know why. READ NEXT: Expert warns about side effects of 'Barbie Botox'
