'Protox': Surprising reason lawyers and politicians are turning to Botox

With Botox, you can hide your nerves, shock and just how much you're judging someone

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Last month, the British Association of Plastic Surgeons revealed that cosmetic surgery is down 40 per cent.

But it could be that people are turning towards non-surgical options, such as Botox - it remains the most popular treatment in London-based cosmetic doctor Dr Tijion Esho’s clinic.

There is however one surprising group of people turning to botox: professionals who need to hide their emotions.

Lawyers, psychiatrists, politicians, stockbrokers, detectives - there are certain people for whom keeping a straight face is paramount. So they’re turning to Botox.

Or, as it has been dubbed, ‘Protox’.

For people who just want a more even complexion and smoothed-out wrinkles, the ‘frozen face’ look associated with Botox is usually to be avoided.

But for professionals who particularly want to stop their facial expressions giving anything away, a frozen face is the end goal.

“Over time I’ve noticed a new wave of patients who are pursuing Botox to give them reduced or minimal expression,” Dr Esho explained to The Independent, adding that it's particularly common for people with “hyper-expressive” features who want to appear more calm or professional.

“I’ve seen a particular trend in professions such as law and banking, where patients in these careers feel that they will be taken more seriously.”

Botox prevents people's natural reactions from giving the game away.

“My friend, who is a psychiatrist, said she spends so much time while patients are talking to her trying to not contract [her facial] muscles, so as to not appear judgmental, that she barely hears what they're saying,” New York City-based plastic surgeon Dara Liotta, MD told Refinery 29.

“I told her to just Botox it away, so she comes in now to get rid of those lines [between the brows].”

Some women in particular turn to Botox to appear strong and counteract the stereotype of overly emotional females.

Another reason professionals are turning to Botox is to stop sweating, which is often a giveaway of nerves.

“I have some people come in who are in the public eye and have the sweaty brow or sweaty forehead and they want it just for that reason,” explains dermatologist Roy G. Geronemus, MD.

“They're embarrassed because it shows that they're nervous.”

No one seems that intimidating with a beady forehead, so why not just Botox it away?