Botox in India: From taboo to trend

India Today

Once mocked as "frozen face," Botox is now as common as a salon visit. From Bollywood to Hollywood, celebs are openly embracing it. But is it all safe? We dive into Botox's history, its risks and why getting the right doctor is everything.

Transcript

00:00I mean, talking about Botox, if I do feel that it's necessary and I trust the dermatologist

00:06that I'm doing it with, why not?

00:09Once feared, mocked and labelled frozen face, Botox is now as common as a cellar visit.

00:14Remember when Botox and fillers were taboo?

00:16So we will not say that Botox and fillers, although unnatural, yes, but they are not

00:20unsafe.

00:21But when it comes to skincare treatments, the Kardashians are very transparent about

00:25their tried and true.

00:26Even in India, celebs are dropping the pretense.

00:28There's a Botox culture?

00:30Wow!

00:31From cancer culture to Botox culture.

00:35On Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives, Neelam Kothari opened up about getting Botox.

00:39So what is Botox?

00:41When you get a Botox injection, you're basically injecting a toxin into your face.

00:45However, when used in Botox, this toxin is purified and administered in very small, safe

00:50doses.

00:51It's a toxin that freezes your muscles, relaxes wrinkles and smoothens skin.

00:56And today, it's used for jaw slimming, excessive sweating, migraines, and even a lip flip for

01:01a subtle pout.

01:02If you feel that your lips are getting thin, you can get fillers.

01:05Fillers, Botox.

01:06There are surgeries as well, so you can get them done anytime.

01:10It's a solution to all insecurities.

01:13According to Allergen, the makers of Botox and Uviderm, 5.5 million people got fillers

01:18in 2024 alone.

01:20But despite its popularity, Botox has a surprisingly dark origin.

01:24In the 1820s, a German doctor found a deadly toxin in spoiled sausages.

01:30Yes, sausages.

01:31This toxin, later named the Botulinum toxin, was the very thing that would go on to revolutionize

01:36beauty.

01:37By the 1970s, Botox was used for medical conditions like crossed eyes and uncontrollable blinking.

01:43Then came the 90s and doctors realized it had a side effect, smoother skin.

01:48But there was one defining pop culture moment.

01:50By 2002, Botox was FDA-approved for wrinkles and suddenly everyone from A-list celebrities

01:56to your neighbor's mom was getting it.

01:58But is Botox risk-free?

01:59Aankhe ekdum khul nahi rahi the aur kaafi headache ho raha tha, pehle apne haathon se

02:06mein aankhe kholi.

02:08This woman became a victim of fake Botox in 2024.

02:12Counterfeit Botox is a real threat.

02:14It can cause severe allergic reactions, infections and even life-threatening complications.

02:19In April 2024, the FDA issued a warning about counterfeit Botox found in multiple states.

02:24Dr. Rashmi Shetty, a celebrity dermatologist, explained,

02:27Counterfeit Botox could go to any extent depending on which area.

02:31For example, if the doctor ends up using it for someone's eye, they could get an extremely

02:35droopy eye, very difficult to lift the eye in the morning and that could last anywhere

02:40between three to six months at times.

02:42And unlike fillers, Botox can't be dissolved instantly.

02:45You just have to wait it out.

02:47In the right hands, Botox isn't just a trend, it's a science.

02:51The only way is to really look at, I mean, get to the right doctor in the first place.

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