“Hi, Barbie!” The iconic 1950s doll hit theatres this summer, grossing a whopping $356 million in its opening weekend—the largest opening for a female director of all time.
Women flocked to the box office dressed in their Barbie best. Pink clothes, accessories, and carefully coordinated group outfits dominated cinemas as everyone aimed to emulate their favorite Barbie.
But has the craze gone too far? Women are flocking to the latest Barbie-inspired trend—Barbie Botox.
The Barbie Doll Look
Botox is a cosmetic procedure that involves an injection of botulinum toxin into a muscle to paralyze it. While it is usually used to reduce facial wrinkles, the new Barbie Botox treatment targets the trapezius muscles, in a procedure known as “traptox.”
When injected, the drug severs the connection between the nerves and the muscle. This makes the muscle less reactive, causing it to shrink over time.
The effects are slender, more relaxed shoulders and an elongated appearance to the neck. This is where the procedure gets its nickname, for the Barbie doll look it gives patients.
Showing Off The Results On Social Media
Social media users are posting their results. On sites like TikTok, the hashtag #BarbieBotox has garnered over 5.2 million views.
User @isabelle.lux posted a video showing off her “traptox”. The viral six-second clip, which features Isabelle proudly defying those who have critiqued the procedure, has been viewed more than 70,000 times. She captioned the clip, “Don’t hate the player, babes… Hate the game and I’m winning.”
@isabelle.lux Dont hate the player, babes…. Hate the game and im winning 😘 #botox #traptox #barbiebotox ♬ follow me on ig the_jaderoom – jade👸🏽
Others commented on the video to express their excitement over the procedure. Some voiced why they considered themselves a good candidate for the treatment, listing complaints like “broad shoulders” and trapezius muscles that were “huge from anxiety.” One woman told Isabelle, “I think you’ve convinced me,” after watching the video.
More Than Just a Beauty Enhancement
The procedure seems to have more than just cosmetic benefits. Many have noticed a reduction in headaches and improved posture. “I did my traps, and my posture went from hunchback to rod straight,” One user commented under @isabelle.lux’s video, “It also provided such pain relief, and [I] felt so relaxed [with] less headaches plus everything.”
Isabelle herself claims that the Barbie Botox has improved her overall well-being. “I’ve never been more relaxed mentally and physically in my life,” she told users. She also shared that the treatment “improves workout[s] if you have overactive traps because finally, the right muscles can work when they’re supposed to”.
Dr. Shereene Idriss, who is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, according to sources, shares what Traptox is all about in her video on TikTok. She claims that this botox “is great for shoulder and neck tension and has the added benefit of slimming and elongating your neck.”
@shereeneidriss #traptox Botox is great for shoulder and neck tension, and has the added benefit of slimming and elongating your neck #botox #dysport #hunchback #trapezius #dermatologist #shereeneidriss @#pillowtalkderm ♬ girls like me don't cry (sped up) – thuy
Doctors Have Differing Opinions
Like with other Botox injections, once the procedure is stopped, the muscles should return to normal. However, Barbie Botox may have increased risk because of the muscle group targeted.
The trapezius muscles are responsible for head and neck mobility. They also control lifting the shoulders and moving the arms. Complications of Botox may result in damage to the trapezius and render a person unable to perform day-to-day tasks.
Dermatologist Dr. Amy Wechsler warns that Barbie Botox might not cause a difference in appearance for most people. Unless the traps are overused and painful, the change is often subtle. It likely isn’t worth the risk.
“I don’t think [the trapezius muscles] should be injected when they’re not being overused because people do that in an attempt to sort of slim the muscle out, but we need the trapezius muscle,” she said. “We need it for the strength of the upper back and the base of the neck and for posture, et cetera. So it’s not a good idea to completely knock this muscle out or make it too weak. That’s not safe.”
READ NEXT: Irish Teen Felt Like a “Show Pony” in the US: Was She Wrong For Refusing to Share Her Culture?
Striving To Be as Beautiful as Barbie
Barbie Botox is not a permanent solution. It is not guaranteed to create the perfect doll proportions many women are longing for, nor is it the safest course of action.
With all the body positivity and diversity shown in the summer blockbuster movie, it is surprising that many are turning to this trend to recreate an impossible standard.
While Barbie has been a president, an astronaut, and even a doctor, she is ultimately a doll. She cannot be a real representation of the human body, and striving to look like Barbie will ultimately lead to frustration and disappointment. As one user commented under Isabelle’s video, “[You all] don’t need to be ‘smaller,’ it really doesn’t matter.”
This article was produced and syndicated by TPR Teaching. Source.
READ NEXT
- Pressured To Use His College Fund For His Brother’s Treatment; Is He Wrong For Saying No?
- Her 14-Year-Old Daughter Identifies as a Furry— Mom Seeks Advice From Social Media
I'm an Irish tutor and founder of TPR Teaching. I started teaching in 2016 and have since taught in the UK, Spain, and online.
I love learning new things about the English language and how to teach it better. I'm always trying to improve my knowledge, so I can better meet the needs of others!
I enjoy traveling, nature walks, and soaking up a new culture. Please share the posts if you find them helpful!