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But it’s not always about looking younger. Men are also using Botox in less obvious places. David Kim, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Soho Dermatology in New York City, treats the chin for greater projection, as well as the underarms to combat excess sweating. Bell Yoo, NP, a certified nurse practitioner and founder of Mimo Aesthetics in West Hollywood, adds that she injects the masseter (and sometimes temporalis) muscles for men who have difficulty clenching their jaw or grinding their teeth.
Aesthetically, men do not usually look for the same things about Botox as women. To begin with, many want to soften their lines without erasing them. Preserving some natural movement is key. “My female patients often love that smooth ‘glass skin’ look, while some of my male patients think it looks too waxy or oily,” says Yoo. Men also tend to choose not to undergo a Botox brow lift, which many women request. “Men would rather keep a slightly fuller, lower brow than end up with an overly arched or ‘Spock’ brow,” says Yoo. According to Samolitis, this requires different injection points and doses tailored to men. Meanwhile, Kim is careful not to go overboard with the crow’s feet. “It looks more natural when men have lines around their eyes and it makes their face look better overall,” he says. These techniques calm men’s fears of appearing less masculine or exaggerated. For most, the end goal is to look relaxed and rejuvenated, not tense and tense. “When done right and in the right amount, you look like yourself, just a little more rested,” says Waldrop. “I still have all my natural movements and expressions, which is important to me.”
All that subtlety has a price. Men may end up paying more than women to treat the same areas, but a higher price is actually expected: Men often have larger, stronger facial muscles, which require more units to achieve the desired results, says Yoo.
While more and more men are embracing Botox, some are keeping their mouths shut about it. Yoo says most of his male Botox patients are pretty discreet. “I think there is still a certain stigma around men receiving cosmetic treatments, and many prefer to keep it to themselves,” he says. Waldrop, however, is an open book. “I don’t really see it as something worth hiding or feeling so weird about,” he says. “Guys are already spending money on skin care, haircuts, hair transplants, exercise and all kinds of things to look and feel better, so I don’t see why Botox should be treated any differently.”
For Waldrop, Botox is less a dramatic intervention than another item on her self-care checklist. He doesn’t see it as something that needs to be announced or apologized for. At the end of the day, “it’s really not that deep,” he says.