'Think less Kardashian, more Markle'
Baby Botox is big news among influencers - and the cosmetic surgery trend is set to hit an Insta-feed near you soon. In fact, you've probably already seen it, but you might not have realised on first glance.
Forget duck lips and frozen foreheads, there's a new 'au naturel' look in town termed 'Baby Botox' and the experts are - predictably - crediting Meghan Markle with sparking the trend for all things naturally beautiful. 'I saw a good few patients attend my practice in 2017 armed with an image of Kylie Jenner,' says Dr Nick Milojevic, owner and lead practitioner at leading Harley Street practice, Milo Clinic. 'But in all honesty, it is not a fantastic representation of what lip treatments can achieve. 2018 will definitely see a more natural lip that aligns with the other features of the face without dominating the face. We have Meghan Markle to thank for that, with her beautifully natural yet full lips'.
As more women than ever in their 20s and 30s queue up for baby Botox, what do we need to know?
What is Baby Botox?
In short, it means 'mini Botox' rather than going the whole hog. Intended to counter the frozen look that seems to have become de rigueur in Hollywood circles, modern influencers and models are looking for something more subtle. Dr Nick Milojevic explains, 'The baby Botox treatments involve tiny doses of Botox which are injected into the usual areas - lips, forehead - but longer gaps are left between treatments and whereas in the past women would ask for two or three syringes per treatment, now I’m more likely to recommend one, or even half a syringe. This means more movement is present in the face.'
How much does Baby Botox cost?
'For the recommended three treatments - each with a one-month gap in-between, you'd be looking at 800, depending on the type of treatment you opt for,’ adds Dr Milojevic. ‘I was at a dinner party recently and a 25-year-old woman asked if I could give her Meghan Markle’s heart-shapped lips. I have also had a number of models request the same. That over-done duck pout look is out and was only ever caused because too much filler was being used and in the wrong places - I.e. too much in the upper lip. As a general rule, if you split the lips into three, the size of the bottom lip should be two thirds of your mouth and the upper lip should be one third. But for years, this was unbalanced.'
How does Baby Botox work?
Much of the millennial appeal of baby Botox lies with the fact that it is preventive rather than overly corrective. 'I tend to recommend the platelet-rich blood plasma fillers using your own blood (also known as the 'vampire facial'), which work with your own stem cells to produce natural collagen - for that subtly plumped look,’ says Dr Milojevic. 'This also rehydrates the skin and counters sun damage, for a wonderfully fresh, youthful look. One model in her late 20s recently came to see me because she wanted to shine for longer, so the baby Botox is good for rejuvenating the skin without the extreme effects of fillers or Botox.'
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