When most people hear the word “Botox,” they immediately think of women receiving injections in order to smooth out wrinkles. While this is certainly one use of Botox, it isn’t the only one. According to Four States Home Page, Botox is increasingly popular among men as well, comprising approximately 10% of patients. “Men in their 30’s to 40’s are most likely to indulge in the anti-aging fad,” the article explains. They also cite several well known celebrity Botoxers, such as Simon Cowell, who have helped to de-stigmatize the idea of Botox for men.
About 360,000 men in the U.S. get Botox injections to minimize wrinkles each year, and this number is consistently growing. Since 2011, the number of men opting for Botox has tripled, even with the average treatment costing around $400. Some people are calling this new trend “Brotox.” “The demographic is 35 to 55-year-old men, mostly businessmen, who just want to look fresher in the workplace. It’s seen as a career investment rather than vanity,” says Dr. Danielle Meagher, an Irish dermatologist, in an interview with the Independent. Meagher points out that men share many of the same concerns women do when it comes to appearing to age naturally. “They don’t want any sign of having had a treatment or anything that will make them look as if they’ve had something done.”
Although wrinkle-removing might be Botox’s most well known feature, the injection, which is actually a medically safe drug prepared from a bacteria known as botulinum toxin, has been used to treat a wide range of conditions including chronic migraines, excessive sweating, facial spasms, premature ejaculation, and other various ailments. Recent studies have indicated that, in the future, it could even be used to help treat chronic depression.
“It is awesome to see that more and more men are embracing botox as a solution for a multitude of problems,” says Karyn Baily, Clinic Director at Med-Aesthetics. “When people realize that it is a solution for more than just wrinkles, I am guessing we will see an overall growth in users both male and female.”