The viral “Barbie Botox” trend, enticing women as young as their 20s to rush for toxin-based procedures in an attempt to emulate the appearance of Margot Robbie, the lead actress in the “Barbie” movie, is raising concerns among medical professionals. Doctors caution that this trend could potentially lead to resistance to medical use in the future.
Medical practitioners have traditionally used the procedure, also known as “Trap Tox,” to inject botulinum toxins like Botox into the trapezius muscles of the upper back to address issues such as migraines and shoulder pain.
However, since the release of the “Barbie” movie in July, there has been a surge in demand for this procedure as a cosmetic treatment. The hashtag #BarbieBotox on TikTok has garnered a staggering 11.2 million views.
Dustin Sjuts, President of Revance Therapeutics (RVNC.O), expressed his concerns in an interview with Reuters. He stated that the procedure is now gaining an association with slimming the neck, a connection made to the actress playing Barbie.
Scot Glasberg
Scot Glasberg, President-elect of the Plastic Surgery Foundation and a practitioner in New York, highlighted that individuals seeking this procedure aren’t primarily concerned about wrinkles or sagging skin; instead, they desire a reduction in neck girth and a more contoured neck.
It’s worth noting that the approval for such injections for cosmetic purposes is limited to procedures involving the face. This makes the utilization of these injections in the trapezius region an “off-label” use.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration places the responsibility for determining the appropriateness of “off-label” procedures on healthcare professionals.
Furthermore, Revance and Evolus Inc (EOLS.O), manufacturers of similar toxins sold under the Daxxify and Jeuveau brands, respectively, have informed Reuters that despite the recent surge in popularity of “Barbie Botox,” they do not foresee a substantial increase in sales attributable to this trend. In contrast, AbbVie Inc (ABBV.N), the creator of Botox, has chosen not to comment on the issue.
Historically, individuals aged 40 and above have been the primary recipients of toxin-based injections, thereby contributing to a market with an estimated annual sales volume surpassing $3 billion in the United States.
Nonetheless, healthcare professionals have voiced apprehensions regarding the growing prevalence of these injections among younger women. Specifically, six medical experts have cautioned against the heightened risks of complications resulting from procedures conducted by inadequately trained personnel at certain medispas.
