Botox use is typically associated with women – but the number of men opting into the treatment across the world is increasing rapidly.
The American Society of Plastic Surgery said last year that the amount of money being spent by men on botox has grown 400% since the year 2000.
President of the Irish Association of Plastic Surgeons Professor Jack Kelly told Lunchtime Live that this is not an exclusively American trend.
“If you look at all the studies that have come out recently, up to 14% of people in studies who are getting botox are men,” he said.
"It’s no longer a rarity; it certainly is a thing for men – men are now more self-conscious and are happy to go ahead with treatment.”
Doctor cosmetologist makes injections into the forehead against mimic wrinkles. Image: Henadzi Pechan / Alamy. 23 June 2021According to Prof Kelly, this uptake could be due to the fallout of COVID-19.
“I think one of reasons it’s increased in the last few years is because of COVID and online Zoom and MS Teams meetings,” he said.
“People are looking at themselves on camera and are beginning to realise that they can certainly improve their appearance, make themselves a little bit fresher.
“I think that has sparked a big change in self-awareness, certainly in most men.
“You know yourself, women were very self-aware for many years and were happy to get treatment, but men have now realised that they look different on the camera to what they think they perceive themselves in real life.”
Regular treatments
Caller Iarlaith said he regularly gets botox treatments, as do many of his male friends.
“When I first started over ten years ago, it was only female friends of mine that were getting it done,” he said.
“There was the odd male friend that I had – now I can’t think of a friend that doesn’t get something done, whether it’s treatments, botox, fillers or the more extreme surgeries, things like that.
“I can’t think of a male that hasn’t had work done or continues to have work done.”
Prof Kelly said botox is a ‘very safe’ treatment that rarely sees people experience complications.
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