Plastic surgeons and cosmetic dermatologists are reporting an uptick in patients requesting "Barbie Botox" or "trap tox" — a cosmetic procedure that has gained traction on social media this summer, The Wall Street Journal reported Aug. 29.
The procedure entails injecting neurotoxins such as Botox or Dysport into patients' trapezius muscles as an off-label treatment for neck and upper back pain. In recent months, many patients have requested the procedure for cosmetic purposes, as it can create the illusion of a slender, elongated neck similar to a Barbie doll.
Shereene Idriss, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City, said she used to see about five trap-tox patients per month. Now that figure is closer to 15, she told the Journal. Many physicians in the U.S. and U.K. are reporting similar trends.
The uptick in interest for the cosmetic procedure likely stems from its recent popularity on social media. As of Aug. 21, the hashtag "Barbie Botox" had more than 7 million views on TikTok, according to CNN.
Some physicians have urged caution amid the trend, expressing concerns that patients may undergo the procedures at medispas with underqualified staff. If administered incorrectly or at the wrong dosage, Botox could paralyze the trapezius muscle or migrate from the original infection site, weakening nerve connections with surrounding muscles, according to Parisha Acharya, MD, a London-based cosmetic physician.
"I think that you need to go to a surgeon or a medical doctor," she told CNN. "If you're not able to get it done at the right place, I would say it's honestly not worth it."