[1/2]Margot Robbie attends the European premiere of ‘Barbie’ on July 12, 2023 in London, United Kingdom. Portal/Maja Smiejkowska/File Photo acquire license rights
Sept. 1 (Portal) – The viral “Barbie Botox” trend, in which women as young as their 20s are pushing for toxin-based procedures to mimic the look of the film’s leading lady, Margot Robbie, could spark opposition from users and the medical community Hinder application Doctors warn in the future.
Also known as “trap tox,” the procedure is commonly used by doctors to treat a class of drugs known as botulinum toxins, such as: B. Botox, into the trapezius muscles of the upper back to treat migraines and shoulder pain.
But since the release of the movie Barbie in July, the demand for cosmetic procedures has increased. The hashtag BarbieBotox had 11.2 million views on TikTok.
The procedure “supposedly narrows the neck and somehow that was attributed to the actress who plays Barbie,” Dustin Sjuts, president of Revance Therapeutics (RVNC.O), said in an interview with Portal.
“They don’t treat wrinkles or sagging skin. They want less girth on the neck, a slimmer, more contoured neck,” said Scot Glasberg, president-elect of the Plastic Surgery Foundation, who practices in New York.
The approval of such injections for cosmetic purposes is limited only to facial procedures, so the use of the injection in the trapezius is “off-label”.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration places responsibility for “off-label” use on healthcare professionals to judge such procedures as “medically appropriate.”
Meanwhile, Revance and Evolus Inc (EOLS.O), which make similar toxins under the brands Daxxify and Jeuveau, respectively, told Portal that while “Barbie Botox” has gained traction in recent months, they do not expect it to Trend will increase sales significantly.
Botox maker AbbVie Inc (ABBV.N) declined to comment.
In the past, people over 40 opted for toxin-based injections – a market estimated to be worth over $3 billion annually in the United States
However, doctors have expressed concern about a rise in use among younger women – and six doctors warned that interventions by under-skilled staff at some medispas increase the risk of complications.
RISK OF RESISTANCE
The rise in use among younger women, who typically have stronger immune systems, also increases the risk that the products could lose effectiveness over time, said Shilpi Kheterpal, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic.
“If they take large amounts of Botox very frequently, the effect may wear off over time, not only with Botox but also with the other products on the market because they all have a similar molecule,” Kheterpal said.
Physicians also highlighted the risk of administration by those who may not be adequately qualified, particularly in medispas where there is little oversight.
“There are no regulations as to what type of doctor can run a medispa,” said Melissa Levoska, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.
“So, technically speaking, a general practitioner or a gynecologist can open a medispa, and there are now more and more medical assistants and nurses who carry out injections.”
The toxins are generally safe, but if not injected properly, there is a potential risk that they will affect nearby muscles and leave them weak for months.
“The scientific evidence to support the clinical profile has not yet been reached,” said David Moatazedi, CEO of Evolus.
“However, we know that neurotoxins have been used in significantly higher doses for therapeutic purposes than for aesthetic purposes, and we do know that the products are safe.”
(Corrected this story to change Dustin Syuts’ designation to “President” rather than “CEO” in paragraph 4.)
Reporting by Leroy Leo in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila
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