FROM THE EDITOR

A friend of mine had it years ago and her forehead looked like resin. Another friend had it more recently and it made me want to get it. Another friend said if you get it, make sure you find an “artist”. Another friend said don’t start getting it, whatever you do, because it’s hard to know when to stop.

Another friend admired a friend on Instagram, on her apparent agelessness and the friend said, it’s not me — it’s Botox. I admired her honesty and her smooth complexion tbh.

The question now is not who has had it but who hasn’t? I have thought about it, a bit more lately, because the character lines are becoming less “character” and more just “lines”. But are they? Or is it just my skewed impression — lines bad, smooth good? All this is giving me more lines, I am certain. There are young women half my age for whom it has become as regular a treatment as a brow tint. Also it is impossible to tell what anyone really looks like any more. Cosmetic “work” — once the domain of the wealthy — is now just a few hundred dollars and a lunchbreak appointment away.

This week, Joanna Mathers uncovers the deleterious side effects experienced by some women after having Botox. It is important to note that for most people there are no drastic side effects. But for one of the most popular and profitable antiageing treatments, it’s important also to know the truth about some for whom Botox has not ironed out life’s wrinkles.