To Botox or not to Botox

"[I have a] moving layer of custard under the skin. Every morning I wake up not knowing how I am going to look". The words of a British woman who'd had an injectable water-based filler treatment under her skin to help her look younger.

Women today - and increasingly men - are under great pressure to retain their young looks. Celebrities are all at it - Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Aniston have all tried Botox, for example. Here's two photos of Kylie taken 20 year apart!

And, meanwhile, in a recession, who doesn't want to create an 'edge' that might just make a difference between a job and a park bench?

But what is the cost of going down this non-surgical cosmetic path? In money terms, around £2000 per year if you count both skin fillers and two sessions of Botox injections. And this for the next 20 years or more. But if it goes wrong, the cost can be greater - as the quote heading this post implies. So why do it?

Talking to people who use Botox, it isn't just about rolling back the years. It's about staying relevant and having people take you seriously. And yes, it's about keeping up with the Hollywood set.

But money and accidents apart, there are two very serious things to consider before Botox. Firstly, will you really achieve what you set out to achieve? Just as facelifts were obvious - and, let's face it, ugly - so the 'new face' physionomy of the Botox injector also gives a 'fake' look. For example, a lighting expert in the theatre recently complained "there's no way to light them so that they don't look hideous".

Secondly, what is the point looking beautifully young if the minute you open your mouth you betray yourself as a frumpy, grumpy old timer? You see, the truth is, that no matter how young we look, if we have an 'Old Brain' in our heads, we will live saggy, uninspiring and limited lives.

So, if Botox is your thing, I say, why not? The arguments for and against are well captured in this recent article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/apr/07/kira-cochrane-celebrities-ageing . If you still feel confident to go through with it, take the plunge. But, whether you Botox or not, think also about rejuventating your mind. Give your thoughts a 'facelift' and see where they take you.