“Barbie Botox”. is it really wise to have injections in the neck to have a doll’s posture?

After Baby Botox, a new concept with an intriguing name, Barbie Botox, is getting all the attention on the Internet. With more than 10 million views on Tiktok, the method has been all the rage on the platform since Kim Kardashian revealed she uses it in an episode of US reality show The Kardashian’s, suggesting that half of her neck is “probably Botoxed”. : “. Indeed, this technique of aesthetic medicine, which consists of injecting the product into the trapezius, will allow forty-somethings to have a delicate neck, slim and graceful shoulders. The results were confirmed by thousands of followers on the social network, mainly Anglo-Saxon women.

Movie release barbie by Greta Garwig, coinciding with this declaration, gave its name to the trend, referring to the famous Mattel doll’s arrogant head carriage. Internet-inspired users also call it “Traptox” (which is a contraction of “trapeze” and “Botox”), another keyword that has more than 24 million views on Tiktok. Behind these enticing names, the idea of ​​injecting botulinum toxin at this location, however, is not as glamorous as it sounds.

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Originally a therapeutic method

Indeed, there was no need to wait for the approval of Kim Kardashian or the success of the film barbie for this method to spawn. Botox injections in the trapezius muscle are far from new, but its original use had nothing to do with the search for an elegant posture. “This technique has long been known and used in the field of reconstructive surgery, particularly in patients suffering from pathologies such as chronic migraines or chronic upper back muscle disorders,” explains Dr. Jonathan Fernandez, cosmetic surgeon in Nice. and a member of the French Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Sofcep). The doctor notes that this procedure is mainly prescribed for therapeutic purposes “to relax certain muscles that develop in a pathological or abnormal way.”

Of interest to people who cannot tolerate this condition but would still like to request these injections. The resulting visual effect. “Thus, by contracting the trapezius muscle less, it will decrease in size and therefore make it possible to have a longer, more prominent neck and less developed shoulders,” continues the expert.

In the field of aesthetic medicine, botulinum toxin can be injected only in three areas of the face: the forehead, glabella and “crow’s feet”.

Dr. Jonathan Fernandez, cosmetic surgeon in Nice, member of Sofcep

Unauthorized practice

However, despite the obvious availability and strangeness of videos on this topic on social networks, a problem arises. Today, according to the High Health Authority (HAS), injecting botulinum toxin into the trapezium for aesthetic purposes is a practice that does not work. recommended. There is no marketing authorization for the drug (“MA”, editor’s note) for this indication,” says Dr. Fernandes, recalling that “the use of botulinum toxin is highly regulated in France. In the field of cosmetology, it can be injected only in three parts of the face: forehead, glabella. (the famous “lion’s wrinkle”, editor’s note) and “crow’s feet.” In the United States, although injecting this substance into this area of ​​the body is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency has not approved its use to reduce the size of the neck and shoulders. “There are not enough scientific studies on this subject for aesthetic purposes, and there is not enough hindsight to ensure its level of safety and effectiveness,” adds Dr. Fernandez.

Even if this practice is popular and covered in gloss, it remains medicine

Dr. Jonathan Fernandez, plastic surgeon in Nice, member of Sofcep

Hazardous crushing

It is an opportunity for the specialist to call on Internet users to be more vigilant about the practice of surgery and aesthetic medicine spread on social networks. “Beware of fashion effects. Today, more and more influential people are being sued for spreading or promoting false information.fake syringes“, warns Dr. Fernandez. And call for reliance on the expertise of healthcare professionals rather than content creators outside of the medical world. “We are not trying new experiences, as if we are testing a new recipe. “We’re not going to inject stuff into the lips because the influencer suggests it’s effective in plumping them up. We’re not just injectors, we’re scientists.” And to conclude. “Even if this practice is popular and covered in glitter, it is still medicine.”

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