Doctors have cautioned that the rising popularity of what is known as "Barbie Botox" among young women in their twenties may have future consequences. They stated that undergoing procedures that rely on a neurotoxin to achieve a look similar to actress Margot Robbie’s character in the film may lead to resistance within their bodies, hindering the medical use of the substance.
Doctors commonly use the procedure, also known as "Trap Tox," for injecting drugs, including Botox, into the trapezius muscle in the upper back to treat conditions such as migraines and shoulder pain. However, since the film "Barbie" was released in theaters in July, there has been an increase in demand for cosmetic purposes. The hashtag “Barbie Botox” has garnered 11.2 million views on TikTok.
Dustin Sgoutas, CEO of Rivans Therapeutics, told Reuters in an interview that the procedure "is supposed to make the neck look slimmer and has, in some way, been associated with the actress playing Barbie." Scott Glasberg, the elected president of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and a doctor in New York, stated, "They are not treating wrinkles or sagging skin, but rather want to reduce the circumference of their necks and desire a slimmer, more attractive neck."
The authorization for injections for cosmetic purposes is restricted to procedures performed on the face, rendering the use of injections in the trapezius muscle "medically inappropriate." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration places the responsibility on health specialists to determine whether these procedures are medically necessary.
