3 things to know about Trapezius muscle slimming (AKA Barbie Tox)

Barbie mania has well and truly hit Australia and the rest of the world following the release of the Barbie movie, starring Australia’s own Margot Robbie. Tik Tok has been quick to pick up a number of “Barbie” related trends, one of those being captioned BarbieTox. Cosmetic injectors are reporting a rapid rise in requests for BarbieTox, better known clinically as Trapezius muscle slimming, and Google searches are up 150% over the past three months, but what exactly is “BarbieTox” and what risks are associated with “BarbieTox”?
 
What is Trapezius muscle slimming (BarbieTox)?

BarbieTox is actually the TikTok coined term that has been used to describe Trapezius muscle slimming. Trapezius muscle slimming involves the injection of a neurotoxin medication into the Trapezius muscle, which results in a weakening of the muscle. Injection of a neurotoxin into the Trapezius muscle may be used in patients suffering from headaches, neck pain which may have been caused by factors like stress or poor posture. More recently, cosmetic injectors are reporting an increase in requests for BarbieTox for slimming, contouring and elongation of the neck area.
 
Is Trapezius muscle slimming (Barbietox) right for me?

Trapezius muscle slimming is a medical treatment, performed by cosmetic injectors. Like all medical treatments it is important to seek a consultation from an experienced health professional who can determine your suitability for this procedure.
Generally speaking you may not be a suitable candidate for Trapezius muscle slimming if:

You are seeking a permanent result:
Like any neurotoxin treatment, the results are only expected to last up to 6 months and will vary based on individual circumstances, such as how your body metabolises the product and the frequency of use of the muscle.
 
You lift weights in the gym:

The Trapezius muscle is utilised as a lifting muscle within the body, if you are regularly undertaking physical activity or have a well activated Trapezius muscle for lifting weights in the gym it will be challenging to achieve the desired result, with a higher amount of units required.
 
Cost is a factor:

The Trapezius muscle is a large muscle, for Trapezius muscle slimming to be achieved successfully a larger amount of the medication will be required. Generally speaking, your cosmetic injector would need to inject the Trapezius muscle requires between 50-100 units of Neurotoxin on each side, compared to your forehead which may require only 12 units.

Finally, due to some recent regulatory changes cosmetic injectors are required to assess all patients for Body Dysmorphia Disorder (or BDD), which is where patients may have a distorted view of their appearance and seek medical procedures to alleviate these concerns. If your practitioner was concerned about BDD they would be unable to perform this procedure due to the potential risk of exacerbating your psychological condition.

What are the risks of (BarbieTox)Trapezius muscle slimming?

Currently in Australia Trapezius muscle slimming is an “off label” indication for neurotoxin medication which means that the pharmaceutical companies will not train cosmetic injectors in this procedure. Like any medical procedure it is essential that you chose a cosmetic injector that is experienced in performing this treatment.

Like any cosmetic injectables procedure there is a risk of side effects. Side effects after Trapezius muscle slimming (BarbieTox) include bruising, swelling, inflammation and infection. Bruising is the most common side effect experienced after Trapezius muscle slimming. Cosmetic injectables aftercare like Arnica cream that has been designed specifically for use after cosmetic procedures can be applied to reduce the risk of bruising and swelling to the affected area. Arnica cream can generally be applied 3-4 times per day. Finally, it is important to consider how relaxing the Trapezius muscle may affect your ability to lift items, as previously mentioned if you are exercising frequently, or are required to lift as part of work or home duties it is important to consider if this is the right procedure for you.