n a world of grooming game-changers, Botox may truly be one of the best. Often confused with fillers, which merely provide structural support that fill in the space beneath wrinkles, Botox’s claim to fame is its ability to go a step beyond by relaxing the facial muscles that cause the wrinkle to form in the first place.
Botox is the brand name of one of the first so-called neuromodulators to hit the market back in 2002. It contains Botulinum toxin-A (a neurotoxin), which was approved by the FDA to reduce wrinkles on the face, primarily forehead frown lines that have the nasty tendency to give away both our age and anxiety levels.1 And as a growing number of guys are realizing their skincare products can only deliver so much, Botox for men has never been more in demand.
While some have lauded Botox as a miracle, there are plenty who claim it robs the face of genuine expression or results in a permanently surprised look, especially around the eyes. Which is why if you’re thinking of getting Botox, you’ll want to keep reading, as we’ve reached out to two of the best in the business—Konstantin Vasyukevitch, MD, a leading facial plastic surgeon based in New York City, and board-certified physician Azza Halim, MD—to get to the bottom of Botox for men and how to do it the right way.
Why Men Might Consider Botox
“The popularity of Botox for men is on the rise,” Vasyukevitch says, as men are specifically looking to do away with the deep lines and wrinkles that make the face appear older. Halim agrees, chalking up the use of Botox to a confidence boost. “Many men feel that maintaining a youthful appearance helps them feel better on Zoom meetings and gain a competitive edge in the workplace as well as the social scene,” she says.
As an anti-aging treatment, Botox is in a class of its own, with both immediate and long-term results that include smoother skin, a reduction in lines and wrinkles, and—over time—the prevention of new lines and wrinkles.
When it comes to seeing a noticeable difference, the results of Botox are undeniable—that is, when it’s done correctly. And if you’re worried about looking like you got Botox, you don’t need to. “The goal is to relax facial muscles without over-freezing, so that one maintains a soft expression, thereby giving results that look natural,” Halim says.