Botox makes boys of men

In the quest for eternal youth, men are catching up with women.

The modern male has now discovered a weapon that females have had in their armoury for more than a decade: the Botox injection.

Since its launch in Britain almost 14 years ago, Botox has become the fastest-growing treatment in the cosmetics industry.

Marketed as a quick anti-ageing fix, it is used by 100,000 Britons every year. And according to statistics published by Transform, Britain's leading cosmetic surgery group, a fifth of patients are now men.

Rise of Botox

In the past year, there has been a 50 per cent increase in male patients signing up for treatment.

The Harley Medical Group says 45 per cent of its clients requesting such non-surgical treatment are male, mostly from centres such as London, Manchester and Brighton.

Botox for men is such big business that it has even got a nickname: Boytox. The growing acceptance among men has been fuelled by celebrities.

“Botox is no more unusual than toothpaste,'' says X-Factor judge Simon Cowell, 48. “It works. You do it once a year. Who cares?''

Certainly not Cliff Richard, 67, Donny Osmond, 49, or Peter Andre, 35, who have all admitted to some muscle-freezing jabs.

Male executives are not taking to lunchtime injections just to smooth away the signs of ageing.

The treatment — which contains botulinum toxin-A, a bacterial nerve poison that causes a serious form of food poisoning known as botulism — reduces elasticity in the forehead.

This makes men look more inscrutable, which enhances their authority in the boardroom.

Apparently, the same “freezing'' effect that gives some women a startled appearance leaves men with a poker-faced assertiveness.

Injecting an image

Consultant plastic surgeon Simon Withey from the London Plastic Surgery Associates says: “The pressure to not look past one's sell-by date is intense. Men want a strong image and this is a subtle way of getting rid of that exhausted or angry look.

"I treat plenty who want to look younger because they feel the pressure of hordes of younger people behind them ready to take their place.''

It takes two injections to iron out lines around the eyes, while up to four shots can freeze the forehead.

Effects are visible within 48 hours but it can take five days to see the difference, which can last six months.

David Seward, 40, managing director of an advertising agency in Leeds, went for his latest session last year. “I work in a young person's industry. We sell electronic games and I felt old talking up products. When I first had Botox, friends laughed. But if Simon Cowell does it, why can't I?''

Peter Rosenfeld, 44, who runs BusyBus, a sightseeing tour company in Chester, had Botox to help him tide over a midlife crisis.

“My wife and I divorced three years ago. I was dating but had lost confidence and found myself lying about my age. A few days after I had it done, I looked in the mirror and I was ten years younger. People now mistake me for someone in their mid-thirties.''

Military roots

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons says, when used “appropriately'', Botox is safe — but the treatment's beginnings were far from benign.

First developed by Dr Edward Schantz in 1946, it was intended as a tool in biological warfare.

But Schantz found that when injected into a patient with neck muscles in spasm, the activity stopped.

In 1962, American doctors used it to treat twitchy eyes, noticing in the process that patients' crow's feet also vanished.

But the treatments aren't always harmless. Cliff Richard suffered a “droopy brow'' after treatment.

In rare cases, it can cause anaphylactic shock — an allergic reaction that can kill.

But despite the risks, vanity wins out. It will be some time yet before men understand what women have known for centuries — that beauty is skin deep.

Do it right to avoid complications

During the last two years, there has been a visible increase in the number of men seeking treatments, such as Botox, in the UAE.

According to Dubai-based specialist in reconstructive surgery, Dr Luiz Toledo, the reasons however, are often, different to women's.

The Brazilian national says these could be to simply look better and also related to the work place.

For men, looking good means a complete boost in confidence.

“They want to feel more energetic, be more confident, at work and while socialising. It is not purely a vanity issue. It is more like self-preservation,'' says Toledo.

“Men want to compete in their field and for that they have to look their best.''

As with any surgery, Botox comes with its share of risks that patients need to be aware of.

However, they are usually related to the technique and not the actual product, Toledo explains. So be sure to do your homework before going through the routine.

“When the product is good and applied in the right manner the results are excellent. Some patients complain of a headache after the injection but that subsides in a few hours,'' he said.

However, if the injection is placed in the wrong areas, it can cause a droopy eyelid that can last for 2 or 3 months.