By Linda Shiue
Botox has been popular for years in women (and men) of a certain age for softening those souvenirs of experience we call wrinkles. It's a personal and philosophical choice that mature individuals make, and less drastic and expensive than plastic surgery.
Teens may be the cause of wrinkles in their parents, but they don't get them. So why would they get Botox? Charice Pempengco, below, is an 18 year old singer from the Philippines who is to appear on Glee, the hit Fox series. She made waves last month when it was reported that she had gotten Botox treatment to make make her face look less round. She told Philippine television, "I want to look fresh when I appear before the camera," during the visit at which her doctor, Vicki Belo, injected her jaw.
does she need Botox?
It's no novelty for TV celebrities to embrace cosmetic procedures in the pursuit of fame. But now The New York Times reports that Botox is gaining traction among non-celebrity teens as well.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 12,000 teens received botox injections in the last year. It is unclear how many of these procedures were for legitimate medical reasons, such as relieving the pain from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) or to stop a twitching eyelid, but plastic surgeons confirm that many teens are seeking procedures for cosmetic reasons. These perceived flaws include overly square jawlines and gummy smiles.
A facial plastic surgeon in Dallas interviewed by The New York Times, Dr. Samuel Lam, reports that he has done 100 Botox procedures on teens for nonsurgical facial reshaping. "A lot of teenagers tease each other about things that as adults we may not consider as important," he said.
Using Botox for cosmetic reasons in teens is not just a matter of philosophical debate, it can also have unwanted side effects. With Botox gone awry, you could end up with facial nerve paralysis, which could cause a facial droop, drooling, or even slurred speech.
That wouldn't look so good on camera.
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"This Teenage Girl Uses Botox. No, She's Not Alone." The New York Times, August 11, 2010.
Photo credit: Wikipedia, ezekielhouse
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