Lauren Andrews

Professor Selby

ENC 2135

May 3rd, 2024

What are the Widespread Effects of Botox Use Regarding Ageing?

Many deem the paralysis of a muscle worth it for the benefits, which can include

smoothing wrinkles out to provide a more youthful appearance, or even taking preventative

measures to slow the act of ageing. FDA approved in 2002, Botox has been a major marketing

point for many dermatology clinics claiming to help ease wrinkles or deep lines in the face.

Since then, Botox has been approved for medical procedures as well, including helping with

migraines, hyperhidrosis, and even bladder issues. Botox has been praised by people worldwide

but has recently been gaining attention of individuals through social media, earning the name

“miracle poison” (Nigam). Botox is normally used in more mature skin, marketed towards older

women who are wanting to cosmetically alter their face to smooth out wrinkles or lines in their

skin, commonly used on the forehead, for smile lines, or in between the eyebrows. As social

media apps are more mainstream, many cosmetic procedures have been introduced to younger

people, which includes youth wanting to slow down the ageing process as much as possible.

Conversely, doctors argue if this new wave of young people receiving Botox is more hurtful than

helpful. Ultimately, what are the widespread effects of Botox use regarding ageing?

Before minimally invasive procedures, women often had to rely on creams that often

produced zero or minimal results or expensive, invasive cosmetic surgeries. In recent years, there
has been an increase in sales in skin care products as younger people aim to nip the ageing

process in the bud, but for older women with mature skin, it is impossible to prevent the ageing

process once it has occurred, and many have had to turn towards medical procedures. There does

rise some concern as with age it takes longer to heal from lengthy procedures, especially around

the facial area which can take months to heal. The average facelift costs around $8,000 dollars

and is a 4-hour procedure, whereas Botox is a flexible procedure, taking around 10 minutes and

is around 10 dollars a unit. Botox is also reversible and cosmetic surgeries are permanent, and if

something goes wrong, patients are either stuck with the result or are forced to get another

surgery. Botox A, also known as botulinum toxin, is a toxin that comes from the Hall strain of

Clostridium botulinum, which is the same bacteria that is responsible for food poising. The toxin

will undergo multiple purifications through acid precipitations, which will be in a crystalline

complex that will hold proteins and the purified toxin, ready for use (Nigam). Once it has been

purified and is ready to be injected, the drug will be placed by a dermatologist or esthetician into

areas the patient has requested. Botox A essentially paralyzes certain areas of the body it has

been injected into. Depending on the number of units injected and how careful a patient is after

their treatment, results are expected to last anywhere between 3 to 4 months but can be extended

or shorted to 2 to 6 months. “The clinical effects of Botox are seen on the first to the fourth days

after injection, followed by 1–4 weeks of maximum effect, which will resolve after 3–4 months.

To prolong the effects of Botox from six months to one year, the treatment should be repeated”

(Satriyasa). Patients can also take preventative care like following doctor’s orders of not working

out or laying down immediately after the procedure or touching the area. Despite its short-term

life, people continue to come back to Botox because in their quest to fight ageing, as it can

achieve results almost impossible to attain through other methods, and it has a reasonable price.
Additionally, it is a short-term commitment and patients have the option to stop getting it if they

no longer want it anymore, where more extreme methods like facelifts are permanent and non-

reversable. There are some side effects involved with using the drug, which can range anywhere

from common and mild to extreme. Common side effects include swelling, bruising, or slight

discomfort. Less common side effects can an allergic reaction, “ptosis of the eyelid or brow,

usually due to denervation of levator palpebrae muscle, diplopia, and muscle weakness within

and outside the injection area” (Alimohammadi et al.). In more extreme cases, if a doctor is not

well-trained or a patient requests many units, Botox can travel to other areas of the face and

paralyze unwanted muscles for extended periods of time.

Impressionable adolescents and young adults have been influenced by the idea of

preventing ageing and slowing down the process of ageing. Apps like TikTok have over 1.4

billion active users worldwide, with 62% of users ranging from 10 years old to 29 years old

(Boone). Although this is a large age range, it does emphasize that majority of users are young.

With this wide audience, most products are going to be advertised towards these younger

individuals, which can include the enforcement of skin care and cosmetic work. Children are

expected to have lengthy skin care routines to remain youthful for as long as physically possible.

This includes children owning chemicals like retinol, hyaluronic acid, and alpha hydroxy acid,

on young skin rather than for its intended audience of people with more mature skin ranging

from ages 35-60. This has not turned away younger people, as new trends have been occurring

on TikTok of children using ice rollers intended to reduce morning swelling, using a Gua Sha,

which is tool used to reduce puffiness and achieve a tighter look, and even resorting to intense

creams and serums intended for older skin, like the brand Drunk Elephant. Drunk Elephant has

been gaining attention on TikTok for children and teenagers using it in their everyday routines,
but this brand is made with intense chemicals like retinol, hydroxy acids, and peptides. This can

be worrying as these drugs when used without proper knowledge “can lead to irritation, redness

and increased sun sensitivity” (Rosseinsky). Although some of these drugs can be effective over

time, “Gen-Z is also embracing injectables because of their immediate results” (Kennedy). More

invasive and intense cosmetic procedures can include using fillers or paralyzing drugs like

Botox.

Within the last 10 years the average Botox patient has changed from someone with more

mature skin to a young adult in their mid-twenties. Botox prices sit at around 10 dollars per unit,

and patients normally get around 20 to 50 units depending on where it is injected. Younger

people have started to get Botox as a preventative feature to avoid forming wrinkles rather than

fixing their wrinkles. Not only does this have less dramatic effects on a younger person’s skin,

but it can also thin the skin and make the muscles weaker, which can make the area look looser

and help form wrinkles (Atkins et al). Financially, patients can spend upwards of 600 dollars a

year just on their Botox, which could potentially push young adults to more permanent solutions

if they do not like the flexibility that Botox gives.

Preventative Botox is praised by many doctors worldwide, as it is a good way to prevent

wrinkles before they even begin to occur. It’s believed that even if skin begins to get thinner over

time, if a patient continues to receive Botox in their worry areas, there will be no wrinkles to

show anyways. Additionally, although Botox is initially a cheaper alternative, it is also safer than

any type of invasive surgery as it is reversable, and the effects will eventually wear off. There has

been an 28% increase of patients getting Botox done since 2010, and it is predicted this number

will continue to increase as time goes on (Rohrich). It is no surprise that with an increase in

patients, there also comes an increase in sales. Dermatologists, estheticians, and licensed workers
who inject Botox also benefit from the new wave that Generation Z and Millennials enforce,

which can include a hefty paycheck. As sales continue to rise, younger people will continue to

remain the target audience for Botox and other cosmetic work through social media.

While Botox is one of the cheaper options to getting cosmetic work done, it is still

relatively expensive. Most of the time influencers, regardless of if they are actors, singers, or

even TikTok stars, have had work done to their bodies or faces. “To an influencer, image and

perception are everything, and fillers can only do so much. To create a picture-perfect image,

many social media influencers are seeking out cosmetic surgery” (Moein). Receiving multiple

rounds of cosmetic surgeries can be incredibly expensive, and influencers can have millions of

fans watching their every move. Not only does having a charming and young-looking influencer

recommended all types of treatments, but it can also push the idea that only the wealthy can

afford to receive such types of surgery. In addition to there being economic barriers that can

occur due to a status symbol indirectly pushing these standards, it can also normalize the idea

that everyone should have some kind of cosmetic work done to their face, which can include

preventative Botox, things like lip flips which use Botox, or simply injecting the smallest amount

in the nose to give the appearance of a nose job.

People who do not have access to cosmetic work due to economic issues are finding

themselves in credit card debt and getting the procedures done anyways. This is a common trend

among Generation Z, racking up thousands of dollars in debt to achieve a flawless face. Some

people consider it an emergency when their face begins to regain some movement and place the

Botox on their credit cards as a resort. Getting Botox is no longer seen as a luxury procedure

either, instead many younger people consider it an essential form of self-care, in a recent

interview by the WLWT television station based in Ohio, Lindsay Taylor states “I thought it was
luxury, but now I definitely consider it regular maintenance.” Many people put getting Botox

injections as such high importance that they will put their safety at risk and avoid seeing a

medical professional to reduce the high costs (Spratt). Other people cut on their spending by

cancelling subscriptions like Netflix or Hulu, or financing by putting themselves on a payment

plan to ensure they can afford their next appointments. No matter how people choose to finance,

it can become worrying that people fear ageing so intensely they feel inclined to receive 10 or

more units or Botox as soon as some movement in their face comes back.

In essence, Botox is considered a great short-term solution to ageing and has helped

millions of people look better and feel better as a result. The new medical interventions

discovered using Botox has helped many to overcome debilitating conditions like chronic

migraines and bladder issues. However, the spread of Botox in younger generations has created

an obsession in anti-ageing that can start as young as pre-teen years. Social media has also had a

direct effect on youth and young adults getting Botox done to avoid ageing. With most people on

apps being younger generations, these users are more likely to be influenced by social media

stars that have had cosmetic work done that ageing is a bad thing that should be avoided.

Additionally, it normalizes the idea that everyone should receive cosmetic work done regardless

of their economic standing and enforces the standard that expensive cosmetic procedures like

Botox are not luxury anymore. Temporary procedures like Botox may also push younger

generations into more permanent solutions to avoid ageing as soon as possible.

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