WASHINGTON — When Nicole Kidman showed up at the Cannes Film Festival to promote a new movie, it was her face that got all the attention.
It was puffy in places, taut in others — fueling rumors that she had once again succumbed to her fascination with Botox.
Kidman, who is 46, has admitted that perhaps she overdoes the facial fillers. And she’s not alone. A number of other celebrities from Madonna to Bruce Jenner to the women of the “Housewives Of….” franchise on cable TV have been accused of hitting the Botox one time too many.
“There is definitely a growing trend of patients that are doing too much Botox, too much fillers,” says Dr. Joseph Michaels, a Bethesda, Maryland-based plastic surgeon.
He says Botox itself is not addictive, but there are patients who get addicted to the wrinkle-free affect it creates, and want more and more.
“There is definitely that possibility,” he admits, “and patients really need to understand that Botox and fillers cannot reverse the aging process.”
Michaels says doctors have a responsibility to just say no, and set limits when patients seek an unnatural result.
‘Everything in moderation is always the way to go,” he says, noting that Botox remains the most commonly used cosmetic procedure in the United States.
It is very popular in the Washington, D.C. area, where Michaels says the vast majority of patients seek a natural look.
“They don’t want people to even know they have had anything done,” he says.
He emphasizes that “the goal is to soften a patient’s look, to make them look more age appropriate.”
Michaels has some tips for anyone considering Botox or fillers.
First and foremost is to find a provider with extensive experience. Keep in mind that Botox will not remove all wrinkles, only those that involve moving a muscle. And those with egg allergies should steer clear.
One big no-no: Never even think about using one of those do-it-yourself Botox kits available on the Internet. The product could be contaminated and dangerous.
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