In Planet Celebrity, botox injections are the biggest thing since nose jobs and now that it is endorsed all over the new TV makeover show, 10 years younger in 10 days, I shudder to think of how many more women will flock to this masochistic craze.
If you haven’t been following, the show is hosted by self confessed botox junky Sonya Kruger, who assists couples to look 10 years younger with the help of a stylist team and cosmetic procedures including dermal fillers, facial surgery and off course botox.
Instead of promoting self-esteem, I think the show seems to be leeching on the insecurities of its viewers, who may now be scrutinising the minor expression lines on their face and wondering if they are the only naturally ageing freaks on the planet.
What happened to ageing gracefully? Today’s media treat women who have attempt to stall the ageing processes like heros.
I would be hypocritical if I said that I didn’t want to look younger but by the same token I don’t think that when I am 45 that I should feel pressure to have it done to have a competitive edge over other women in the workforce, or be perceived to have let myself go just because I haven’t had it done.
At the end of the day some of the greatest women leaders, artists and intellectuals aged with grace minus botox and facelifts. Botox isn’t exactly an anti-ageing dream.
Derived from the dangerous botulinum toxin, Botox reduces wrinkles by blocking impulses from nerve cells to facial muscles in one jab.
The results are temporary and you need to repeat procedure to maintain your look. There are potential side effects, including temporary eyelid droop, double vision, facial pain, redness, swelling and muscle weakness.
If you have it enough times you may end up looking like those celebrities who as hard as they try can’t smile or frown properly!
Although the long term effects of the treatment are still unknown, a study last year found that Botox can move from the face to the brain.
But hey, if you don’t mind getting shot up with poison and paralysing parts of your face, well you’ve got plenty of company.