BOTOX for Valentine’s Day? Perhaps.
When (and when NOT) to gift it.
February. It’s the so-called season of love, thanks to Valentine’s Day, paper hearts, boxes of chocolate, flower bouquets, glitzy greeting cards and … BOTOX® Cosmetic.
Whoa. Wait. What? BOTOX for Valentine’s Day?
Maybe. Maybe not.
A few years ago, a British newspaper reported that research revealed 80 percent of women surveyed said they wanted BOTOX as their Valentine’s Day present. Even more interesting was that 78 percent of survey participants claimed they’d be “impressed” if their partner gave them BOTOX for the holiday.
While celebrating your sweetie is a time-honored and touching tradition, gifting someone BOTOX may not be the most romantic (aka, smartest) thing you can do. Before we get into the when and when not to gift this cosmetic procedure, let’s take a look at what BOTOX is and why someone might want it.
What is BOTOX?
BOTOX is the first FDA-approved treatment for the temporary reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. It is a prescription-only product that contains tiny amounts of a highly purified botulinum toxin protein refined from the bacterium, Clostridium botulinum.
Available since 2002 and used by millions of people, I’ve been treating my patients with BOTOX since I opened my practice in 2005.
When properly administered by a qualified professional, such as a board-certified plastic surgeon, BOTOX is a muscle relaxer that eases muscle constriction, temporarily improving the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyes and fine lines or crow’s feet around the eyes.
When NOT to Gift It
The choice to have any type of cosmetic injection is highly individual and very personal which is the primary reason NOT to gift BOTOX to your beloved for Valentine’s Day.
As with plastic surgery, the decision to use BOTOX should never be based on someone else’s opinion of “beauty” or “good looks.” Rather, BOTOX is an anti-aging treatment that any adult woman or man who wants to non-surgically minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles around the eyes and across the forehead can choose for themselves.
When to Gift It
There is one time, however, when BOTOX makes the perfect gift: When you want to gift yourself with a smoother, younger-looking appearance.
Like other anti-aging procedures, BOTOX can treat areas of concern around the eyes, between the brows and across the forehead, helping you look and feel better and, most importantly, be more confident. And that is the best gift of all. Happy Valentine’s Day.
This article from Jason Lichten, MD, first appeared in Bexley Living Magazine in 2017.
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