Dr Sally Rayment argues that stigma around botulinum toxin needs to be challenged to ensure equitable access
Botulinum toxin has revolutionised both aesthetic and medical practices. Nonetheless, it remains entangled in a web of negative societal perceptions around gender norms, media narratives and cultural perceptions of ageing which can serve as a barrier to individuals considering both aesthetic and therapeutic applications. Frequently associated with superficiality or inauthenticity, toxin use, particularly among women, is judged harshly, despite growing evidence of its positive impact on psychological and physical wellbeing.1
I argue that understanding and addressing this stigma is essential to ensuring equitable access to botulinum toxin treatments – not only for aesthetic reasons, but also for therapeutic indications.
Origins of toxin stigma
Authenticity and shame
A key criticism of toxin is that it undermines ‘authenticity’. Critics suggest that users are concealing their true selves or attempting to deceive others by altering their appearance.2 These claims…
