London—A British study suggests that people who undergo Botox treatment may become addicted to it.
The research, conducted by Carter Singh, Ph.D., of the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, and Martin Kelly, M.D., of London Plastic Surgery Associates, was to be presented at a meeting of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.
The research team surveyed clients at 81 clinics in Britain, and compared Botox users to people who used other, less invasive cosmetic treatments. Among the study’s key findings:
- 40 percent of patients using Botox expressed a compulsive desire for further treatments.
- 50 percent of Botox users expressed feeling a lack of control over the natural aging process
- Nearly 50 percent expressed anger at people who criticize them for Botox use
- More than 40 percent expressed a compulsive motive for using Botox repetitively
- More than 50 percent of people using Botox reported feeling younger rather than just looking younger
The study concludes that Botox users seem to have a greater concern about the aging process and their inability to control it than do non-Botox users, and that while Botox has a good safety profile, it also has potentially addictive qualities.
Mintel, a British market-research firm, estimates that there was a 50 percent increase in the number of people treated with Botox injections in the UK during 2005.
