Is Hollywood Botox Toxic to Careers?

By Ben Widdicombe Posted Apr 4th 2010 01:00PM

To Botox or not to Botox? While Hollywood actresses are under immense pressure to remain youthful, too many cosmetic procedures can freeze their faces into a parody of the comedy/tragedy masks that are a symbol of their profession.

And nobody wants an actor who can't move her face.

Jennifer Aniston, 41, has set off new interest in the subject by telling UK Harper' Bazaar that she wouldn't mind having Botox herself. "I could do it, and I mean these lines are getting deeper every day," she told the magazine.

However New York's top plastic surgeon tells PopEater: "If you wait until your forties to start having this done, the horse has already left the barn."

Dr. Robert Grant, Plastic Surgeon-in-Chief at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical Center, actually treats some of the actresses you read about in the tabloids (although, of course, he won't confirm which ones.)

"Women in Hollywood are getting procedures earlier and younger than the average cosmetic patient," he says, noting that early use of Botox is believed by some to help prevent wrinkles from forming. "You need to begin a global approach to aging in your twenties, or even as a teenager, using sunblock, seeing an aesthetician, applying topical remedies to rejuvenate skin to keep it as healthy as it can be."

But he adds: "We want to be able to not over-treat people so they don't have the ability to emote."

Botox is Hollywood's pretty poison: It is a toxin that reduces lines by immobilizing facial muscles. Nicole Kidman, 42, is often considered to be a cautionary tale about the dangers of using too much of it, with her face seemingly frozen. But in 2007 she denied having had any procedures whatsoever, telling Marie Claire magazine, "I am completely natural." Her denial was met with some incredulity: This recent article in the UK Daily Mail headlined "Nicole Kidman Turning Into A Bat-Face" is more typical of the media's usual tone on the subject.

Nicole Kidman and Cher

Oscar-winner Cher, 63, is another star whose undeniable talent as an actress seems to have been undermined by too many trips to the plastic surgeon.

Casting agent Matthew Messinger says, "There have been a couple of times in recent memory when the actress I would suggest for a role had recently had work done that so altered the her face, that the producer would pass on making them an offer. It's not common, but it has happened."

However Messinger says cosmetic procedures are not the only option.

"I understand why they do it to stay viable and stay in the game, but I honestly deplore most of it -- Botox and bad lifts -- because in addition to erasing lines, it erases emotion and subtle expression," he says. "Cheers to the bravery and talent of actresses like Maggie Smith and Liv Ullmann!"

Tags: Cher, jennifer aniston, Nicole Kidman

Comments

(32)

Sunday 04 April

By themeeker

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To botox or not to botox? You need only look at the tragedy that is Meg Ryan to have the answer there.

By Wish Belkin

That absolutely beautiful women feel the need to engage a cosmetic surgeon speaks to a deeper pathology that should be addressed.

Monday 05 April

By bill

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Jen anuston is so plain-faced, Meg Ryans mug may be an improvement!

By maggie

sorry but aniston and kidman look terrific, they're two beautiful women and if kidman has a bat face 3/4 of the women on earth should covered their faces and don't go out. media like always exaggerate.

By Sarafina

The article said actresses do Botox to stay in the game...... Meryl Streep is in the game without Botox....Congrats to Meryl great actress. Sexy abd Beautiful....60yrs young.

By Johnny

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she is aging wonderfully, hell most women dream of looking as good at her age and shes talking about looking better, shame really

By Patty

you can always tell who had Botox. These women are so vain and shame on Hollywood for pressuring these young women to look younger. the botox does take away there natural expressions which make them believable in a role. Men in Hollywood have wrinkles up the yang yang and that is ok. I would never inject botulism in my face. My God your talent should stand on its own. Grow old gracefully is my intentions. It must be very hard for some of these starlets to age. Even with the botox and surgery you can still see that they are aging. Is it worth it?

By jaguar02

What you suggest is correct however, our culture is so brainwashed into the youth idiodicy and priorities are so twisted in this generation.

By Morgan

Botox is not the only liquid injected...the nasio-labial lines and the lips use different products. Botox takes away the wrinkle between the eyebrows and the list goes on. So don't be too sure that actresses who seem to be aging gracefully haven't had an injection. It just doesn't show unless it's overdone. Yes, many have overinflated lips thinking it's a cool disguise! If you could afford it and it meant getting a job in this youth oriented society, what would you do?

By Angelia

If Nicole Kidman is a "bat face", then I want the same. She is truly beautiful.

By Mara

meryl had botox at the begging of the decade..she's not immaculate. people act in this way and adore her because she's 60 years old...when she was younger she was hated like kidman or aniston are now. no hipocrisy thanks.
what bores me most is we talk about kidman just in relation to botox. she's such great actress, she's not just beautiful. I suggest you to see fur, birth, margot at the wedding among many others. the real nicole kidman is not the one you read on papers and blogs. she's another one: a talented, gifted actress.

By SQ

earthquake in Los Angeles area...anyone know how big....TODAY

By SUE

6.9 a BIG one centered in Mexicali and felt in Los Angeles. My sister said it seemed to go on and on...being from California, I know how scary those can be.

By colleen

Yes, we can multitask!

By Areanna26

Jennifer Aniston looks great but Nicole Kidman has looked like a wax figure for years. It's obvious she's had lots of botox.

By Reena

I totally agree!!
Nicole Kidman is no way all natural!

By Jerome Thomas

I have been a lifelong Cher fan. While she is far from unattractive, I can't help wonder how she would looked having never had a single body-altering surgery. Same with Michael Jackson. I suspect both would have been more attractive. I think mother nature is a better judge and facilitator of what is beautiful than a car load of board certified plastic surgeons and the recipient's judgement as well. Again, look at poor Mr. Jackson. His monstrous appearance later in his life would have been laughable were it not so tragic.

By Laurene

I, too, think Cher should have stayed away from the plastic surgery because I believe she would have aged beautifully. I still think she's a beautiful person, but, ooh, that waxy/too much surgery look has done nothing for her looks. I guess when you're doing Vegas in skimpy costumes, you want to look tight. Oh, well.

By coniljw

Sarah Jessica Parker needs a new face. Could Botox help that horse face?

By Ladyblue

Aniston hasn't has work done?? If not she looks amazing...but I think she may have had a little suble work done, she looks way younger now than a few years ago.

While I agree Kidman still looks good, she looked so much better when she was a natural beauty. I think she would have aged gracefully, but I guess we'll never know. And all that botox is surely toxic to the system?

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