There's a new buzzword doing the rounds recently, and it's one that may raise a few eyebrows - ‘Boytox'. This adaptation of the word Botox is used to describe the rising number of men who are turning to the needle to keep the signs of ageing at bay.
A new marketplace
Once the preserve almost exclusively of women, the popularity of having an anti wrinkle treatment that is quick, effective and doesn't involve going under the knife is appealing to more men who want to take male grooming to a new level. But it's not just for vanity's sake that men are taking up the option of a Botox treatment. In an increasingly competitive jobs market, personal appearance is more important than ever, and men have come to the conclusion that if women can use everything at their disposal to fight off the signs of ageing, then why can't they?
There's no doubt that the number of male celebrities who have admitted to investing in botox treatment has paved the way for others to follow suit. Big media stars such as Simon Cowell and Gordon Ramsey have both freely admitted to using Botox, giving men the green light to follow in their footsteps and head for the nearest skin treatment clinic offering Botox injections. It's probable that this number will continue to rise as more male celebrities come forward and admit to helping nature along a little with the occasional Botox injection to keep the wrinkles at bay.
Botox - the facts
So how does Botox work? The treatment has been used for over 20 years in the treatment of certain conditions including Blepharospasm (a continuous squinting of the eye), but its effectiveness at smoothing out skin texture and minimising wrinkles and creases around the eyes, forehead and even the neck were well documented. Skin specialists saw Botox as an opportunity for those who wanted to correct the signs of ageing but without going under the surgeon's knife, and so the popularity of Botox took off.
Botox reduces the amount of muscle movement and prevents the skin from creasing when we smile or frown, which allows the skin to recover some of its former texture, smoothing out lines and giving a younger appearance to the face. With a few simple injections and a few hours recovery, Botox offers an almost instant solution - especially important if you have a big job interview and want to look your very best.
The dramatic drop in price of Botox anti wrinkle injections means that it is now accessible to almost anyone, and men are taking full advantage of that availability. It is not seen as the preserve of women any more. Business analysts are predicting a continued growth in the number of men turning to Botox and a big market growth in cosmetic surgery in general over the next five years. As the world becomes a more competitive place and personal appearance is increasingly important, ‘Boytox' looks set to be a perfectly acceptable and common part of male grooming.
