While some of us may have heard horror stories about Botox courtesy of poorly or untrained surgeons, Botox is still the most popular non-surgical anti-wrinkle procedure. The number of people opting for this form of treatment is increasing all the time – roughly 200,000 people go under the needle every year.

While Botox is leading the charge into non-surgical cosmetic treatments, surgical treatments are actually on the decrease, declining by a not so modest 17% from 2008 to 2009. When you look at the increase of 1% between the same dates in Botox injections, it may be that some people are turning to the convenient, safer and non-invasive route of Botox.

Why the increase in popularity?

One reason for the steadily increasing rise in Botox’s popularity, apart from the aforementioned reasons, is the increased training and proficiency of those supplying the treatment. The standards of Botox treatment has increased considerably since the days when certain untrained personnel were offering the treatment. Now, there are a range of Botox courses to ensure clinicians attain the essential skills and experience, and the number of companies offering Botox training has also increased.

These changes can already be seen to have had a dramatic impact – the number of consultants and surgeons trained to professionally administer Botox injections has increased by around 50% over a year.

The time it takes to perform the procedure has also dramatically decreased, to the point where it can be as simple as going for a check-up at your dentist (although we aren’t suggesting you have two Botox injections annually!). Some surgeons are warning against the casual approach this ease of access could have, and some surgeons are warning against the casual approach this ease of access could have. After all, if administered incorrectly, Botox can be dangerous and, as such, should only be performed by trained professionals and only after much through and consideration has been put into the decision.