The Barbie movie fuels a TikTok craze of women getting Botox injected into their necks in an effort to look more like the iconic plastic doll.
Women have flooded the social media platform en masse with videos showing dramatic images of their trapezius muscle – which runs across the back of the neck and shoulders – before and after getting the anti-aging shot.
Proponents say the “Barbie Botox” trend not only made their necks look longer and slimmer, but also “relieves tension” and “improves posture.”
However, experts warn that the trend could damage muscles and may not have the same neck-slimming effect for everyone.
The procedure, which takes less than an hour and costs around £800, involves Botox going into the trapezius muscles to relax and shrink them.
In a video posted by @upkeepbeauty, a woman praises the procedure and shows off her progress a month after having it done, claiming to feel more relaxed
Botox is the most famous brand of the substance botulinum toxin, used to paralyze facial muscles with the aim of reducing wrinkles.
It works by blocking the signal between the nerve and muscle. When injected into the trapezius muscle, the muscle shrinks from decreased stimulation, giving the neck a thinner, more contoured appearance.
Videos of young women showing off their new “relaxed” and elongated shoulders with the hashtag “#barbiebotox” have garnered thousands of views on TikTok.
In a clip posted by @upkeepbeauty and viewed 95,000 times, a woman is seen praising the procedure and comparing her cleavage before and a month after getting the shots.
In the video, titled “Barbie Botox Update,” she claims her “shoulders feel more relaxed.”
Another TikTok user @isabell.lux, who has more than 500,000 followers, says she looks “tiny” and “like a little bird” after getting Botox to her neck muscles.
TikTok user @isabelle.lux, who has more than 500,000 followers, showed her a month after Barbie Botox progress. She claimed that she used to have broad shoulders and they are now “small”.
The trend is also being promoted by plastic surgeons.
Botox to the trapezius muscles gives people a “swan-like neck” and can even relieve migraines, says Dr. David Rosenberg, a Los Angeles-based plastic surgeon, in a video that has been viewed more than 37,000 times.
Plastic surgeon Jonathan Kaplan, based in San Francisco and posting videos on TikTok as @realdrbae, says people who carry a lot of “tension in their neck” get a lot of “relief” from “traptox.”
In a TikTok video that has more than 43,000 views, he said, “You can inject the trapezius muscle and it can just reduce most of the muscle in your neck.
“It can give you the silhouette of a narrower frame.”
The treatment gives people a “swan-like neck,” says Dr David Rosenberg, pictured. In a TikTok video with more than 37,000 views, the plastic surgeon also claims that the injections can help treat patients with migraines
Dr. Richard Westreich, a New York plastic surgeon who goes by @newfaceny on TikTok, also explained the Barbie craze in a video, saying it can take 60 to 80 units of Botox or similar injections to shrink the muscle.
Dr. Thuha Jabbar, an aesthetic doctor and founder of Almas Dentistry & Aesthetics in London, says the treatment could also benefit those with office jobs.
She said, “These muscles often accumulate tension, especially in individuals who spend long hours at a desk or carry heavy bags, leading to discomfort.”
Amanda Azzopardi, aesthetic nurse and founder of Amanda Azzopardi Aesthetics in Liverpool, also claims it can ‘improve posture’ and ‘provide relief from tension headaches’.
Plastic surgeon Jonathan Kaplan, based in San Francisco, says people who carry a lot of “tension in their neck” get a lot of “relief” from “traptox.” He says that in addition to relaxing muscles, it can also be used for cosmetic reasons
Clinics in the UK are also noticing an increase in the number of people wanting to ‘try out’ the emerging trend.
Ms Azzopardi said: ‘More and more people are now trying Traptox’.
Aesthetic doctor Hanson Yu, who offers the procedure at his private clinic on Harley Street, said the procedure “has seen a notable increase.”
The Harley Street Skin Clinic in London has also received many more questions about the treatment.
Dr. Aamer Khan, who offers the procedure at the Skin Clinic, says he has been offering Botox in traps for many years, and usually only one or two people would ask about it each week. But 15 have expressed interest in the proceedings in recent weeks.
But he cautions that not everyone is fit for treatment—he warns that people with “normal-sized falls” ask questions.
Dr. Westreich, pictured, a New York plastic surgeon who goes by @newfaceny on TikTok, also explained the Barbie craze in a video, saying it could take 60 to 80 units of Botox to shrink the muscle. He says it may take a few weeks to see the effects
Dr. Khan said: ‘What they’re hoping for is a reduction to a point where you get a longer, leaner neck, but they might not give that. Their expectations can be unrealistic.’
He also urges people to have the procedure performed by experienced practitioners.
He said, “If it’s done the right way, you shouldn’t have any problems in the long run because once you stop doing it, the muscle will come back.”
‘If the Botox is injected into blood vessels, people can get a little feverish, people can feel a little unwell, and muscle weakness can also occur.’
Experts also warn that the injections could weaken the trap muscles, which are essential for basic movements such as turning the head, shrugging the shoulders and twisting the arms.
As a result, they urge people not to get too much Botox into the muscle as they may struggle with simple daily tasks.