'Boytox': men's weapon for defying age

London, Apr 1 (UNI) The desire to look young is no longer a woman's priority, as middle-aged men are catching up fast with women in their quest for eternal youth.

Men are increasingly taking painful needle pricks to erase their ageing signs, so much that anti-ageing injection Botox has got a nickname 'Boytox'.

Since its launch more than a decade ago, Botox has become the fastest growing cosmetic treatment in the cosmetic industry and had long been in the armoury of women in their crusade against ageing, according to a report in The Independent.

A survey published by Britain's leading cosmetic surgery group Transform revealed that there has been a 50 per cent increase in male patients signing up for the treatment in the past one year.

The growing acceptance of Botox among men has been fuelled by celebrities. The treatment which contains botulinum toxin-A, reduces elasticity in the forehead and makes men look more inscrutable.

''Men want a strong image and Botox is a subtle way of getting rid of that exhausted or angry look. They want to look younger because they feel the pressure of hordes of younger people behind them ready to take their place,'' Consultant plastic surgeon Simon Withey from the London Plastic Surgery Associates observed.

Botox was intended as a tool in biological warfare, but Dr Edward Schantz, who developed it, found that when injected into a patient with neck muscles in spasm, the activity stopped.

Although, it is safe when used appropriately, it isn't always harmless. In rare cases, it can cause anaphylactic shock, an allergic reaction that can kill. It might cause a 'droopy brow', headaches, double vision or sagging facial muscles. But despite the risks, curiosity and vanity win out.

UNI XC SLD RK1336