Three celebrities were to start a clinic for aesthetic medicine, but withdrew before the doors opened. What they set in motion, however, is a fierce debate about women’s health. And beauty hysteria. Are we wrecks when the face shows signs of ageing? Are Botox and fillers soon the new normal? Are injections of nerve agent in the face soon as common as a peeling or neck massage? As dental specialist Heming Olsen-Bergem was to put botulinum toxin in the jaw of a 14-year-old with jaw pain, the mother is said to have made a request: – If I could put a little preventative as well, in the forehead area. 11 requests in a year and a half The 14-year-old girl and her mother were at the hospital with Olsen-Bergem. – The girl had a lot of pain in her jaw and face. She was unable to gape, says the dentist. In addition to leading the dental association, he has a doctorate in temporomandibular disorders in children and young people. Heming Olsen-Bergem is a dental specialist with a PhD and president of the Norwegian Dental Association. Photo: Sverre Lilleeng / news He often has patients with severe pain. If the exercises he gives them don’t work, he considers injecting them with the nerve agent botulinum toxin. There is no cure, he says, but can make the muscles relax more and make self-training easier. Olsen-Bergem says he was put off by the question from his mother, and asked back: – “What do you mean?” She replied it was to prevent frown lines or smile lines on the side of the eyes, he says. In a year and a half, he must have experienced the same thing 11 times. Both in hospitals and in private clinics. – My impression is that this is not so unusual among mothers who use it themselves, he says. The dentist felt compelled to have a serious talk with mother. But how common – and how accepted – are Botox and fillers in Norway today? Injection of botulinum toxin into the face will cause the muscles to be paralyzed and thus not “create” wrinkles. Photo: Ihor Bulyhin / Getty Images/iStockphoto Little accepted news has tried to get closer to an answer. 1,000 people took part in a survey carried out for us by Norstat. 1 in 7 young people in the establishment phase have considered Botox, fillers or similar for cosmetic reasons. Here the difference is big between young people and adults. Of the total who have thought about doing so, there are over three times as many women as men. 1 in 10 Norwegians in their 40s have used Botox, fillers or similar to fix their appearance. Most of the users are women. Over 60 per cent of all respondents believe that there is little acceptance in their own circle for this. 8 per cent think there is great acceptance for it in the circle of friends. It is far more accepted among young people than adults. How common do you feel it is with botox, fillers and the like? Very common – I’ve done it myself Common – I’ve considered it myself Quite common – but I haven’t done it Uncommon – few I know have done it Very unusual – I don’t know of anyone Show result Explosive increase of Botox Botox is the world’s most used medication with botulinum toxin. The sale of medicines containing the substance has almost quadrupled in Norway in nine years. There are several doses in each package. Therefore, these figures do not tell how many Norwegians make use of this. Some receive injections for medical reasons. As with jaw problems, chronic migraines, extreme sweating or overactive bladder. But the group makes up a very small proportion of users. The prescription register provides a clue: Around 5,500 people received the drug on prescription in Norway in 2020. Kylie Jenner initially denied having fillers in her lips, but then admitted that she did it because she was unsure of herself. She is not the only celebrity who is open about such beauty treatments. Photo: MARIA ALEJANDRA CARDONA / AFP While botulinum toxin is categorized as a drug, fillers are medical devices. Fillers must fill in. Gel with hyaluronic acid is injected into, for example, lips or cheekbones to give volume, or to smooth out wrinkles in various places on the face. In order to obtain sales figures for fillers, news has contacted three companies that supply some of the biggest brands. Restylane is injected to make lips larger. Photo: Sigurd Steinum / news Galderma makes Restylane. They do not state how much they sell in Norway. But overall worldwide, the increase in sales of fillers was 32 per cent in the first half of 2022. Esthetica supplies Teosyal in Norway. Figures news has received show that they have doubled their turnover in seven years. After repeated attempts, Allergan Norden, which supplies Juvaderm in Norway, has not disclosed the sales figures. The 14-year-old did not get extra Botox When the mother is said to have suggested “preventive” Botox on her daughter, Olsen-Bergem paused the class and asked the girl to go out into the hallway. – I had a long talk with mother. I pointed out that she could be a bit of the problem that there was so much tension. It was a good chat. Back in the dentist’s chair, the girl did not get extra Botox. – The surplus was thrown away – it was not used preventively. Olsen-Bergem believes adults must be role models, and that professionals must think about what they are willing to join. – Health workers must set a limit. Some people may have bad morals and ethics. Some want to see a market.
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Preventive Botox? Heming Olsen-Bergem says mothers have asked if their children can get Botox on their foreheads – news Trøndelag
