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This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice.

Once upon a time, women worried about wrinkles and gray hair; men were virile “silver foxes.” That was the stereotype for each gender.

Today, many women embrace their silver hair, and a lot more men reach for the hair dye. This is a personal choice. What hasn’t changed is everyone’s desire to look and feel as attractive as possible. And for men, this increasingly means considering Botox®.

The facial injectable, which has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 2002, helps people feel more confident, which in turn boosts self-esteem—and may help mature men to better compete in the job market.

Botox for Guys: Brotox

While the term has been part of the popular lexicon for a while, Botox isn’t an over-the-counter product. It’s a cosmetic enhancement procedure that must be administered by a trained professional. A qualified health provider needs to learn Botox injection in a setting designed for this training, such as the series of Botox training, dermal filler, and facial aesthetics workshops offered in Orlando on consecutive weekend days. These educational and hands-on workshops are crucial for any aesthetic practice.

So what’s the deal with “Brotox,” as the media has dubbed Botox for men? Some maintain it’s a way to “freeze time” by freezing their facial muscles. If you believe crow’s feet look better on crows than around your eyes, you may be a good candidate for Botox.

The procedure takes just a few minutes, with results visible in three to seven days. With Botox, those “look younger by Monday” ads from yesteryear might actually prove true. Your colleagues may think you look well rested, and wonder if you indulged in a spa weekend. Only your aesthetician—and those you choose to tell—will know you had a little something done.

A Little Better All the Time

The Beatles weren’t referring to Botox when they sang, “I’ve got to admit it’s getting better / A little better all the time…”. Yet this is how people who receive Botox treatments often say they feel. Society can be relentless in the emphasis it places on how we look, so it is small wonder many people feel pressured to maintain a youthful appearance regardless of their calendar age.

While wrinkles are still more societally sanctioned on a male versus a female face, non-invasive cosmetic procedures such as Botox are surging as a trend. Much of this can be attributed to the changing attitudes toward gender roles.

Once men were not expected to give much thought to their bodies beyond possibly developing a sleek physique. Now, as emotional openness has evolved into a sought-after trait, so has the desire to soften one’s look. With the stigma surrounding such procedures fading, men are becoming more comfortable exploring their options.

Social media is also responsible for the rise in Brotox, as having your image splashed everywhere—not to mention video—has made it more essential than ever to look polished and professional.

Along these same lines, the pandemic is partly responsible for the growing interest in Botox treatments, too. Starting in 2020, everyone was suddenly meeting via Zoom or other video platforms, seeing themselves far more frequently for a sustained period of time than a quick glance in the mirror. Many people felt dismayed at what they saw.

Botox is now a billion-dollar industry, with women receiving about four million Botox-type treatments in 2020 and men undergoing about 250,000 similar procedures. Keep in mind that this was during Covid, when most people weren’t even leaving their homes. “Brotox” is the number one cosmetic procedure men request: it’s seen a 400% increase in treatments administered since 2000.

The Science Behind Botox

How does Botox work? The procedure involves a series of injections into one’s facial muscles. It’s vital to emphasize, again, that this procedure should only be performed by a trained, licensed medical professional. The injectable used is a small dose of botulinum toxin (Botox, the brand name, is a combined form of these two words), which causes your muscles to relax, thus reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

Unlike a facelift, Botox injections are not surgery, so the effects will decrease over time. If you want to maintain the facial appearance Botox gives you, you’ll need to repeat the procedure periodically, usually at three- to four-month intervals.

To choose the right Botox provider for your treatments, look for a medical professional who is experienced in treating men and, ideally, is board-certified in their field. Ask to see before and after photos, or ask family and friends who’ve had the procedure for referrals.

In the 2020s, courageous people are breaking stereotypes of all kinds. Looking and feeling your best is your birthright. If Botox—or Brotox—will enhance your sense of self-worth, give yourself this gift.

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This content is brought to you by Empire Medical Training.

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