Age-old Story: Dr. Rabia’s Opinions Against Normalising Botox
Dr Rabia Malik prefers to avoid Botox and fillers in her 40s for reasons based on science, and simple common sense
Dr Rabia Malik MRCGP, MBBS, BSc(Med), DCH, DRCOG, DFSRH, DHMSA Is a UK trained Holistic Aesthetic Doctor and General Practitioner, based at The Wellness Clinic at Harrods, London. She has her own collagen stimulating skincare range, Doctor Skin Collagen, and recently created the online platform ‘Women Ageing Well’.
I am 45-years-old and have never had any Botox or filler injections myself – nor have I ever offered these treatments to my patients, despite being an aesthetic doctor with a skin-based practice since 2011. For the past five years, I have been based at The Wellness Clinic at Harrods in London, where I am the only non-injectable doctor.
My approach definitely puts me in the minority. In my social circle, I am one of only a handful of friends who have similarly eschewed injectable treatments. A quick survey of acquaintances in my age group reveals nine out of 10 have had some sort of injectable treatment. These days, having Botox or a filler is viewed in the same way as getting your roots done to cover grey hair. But is it really the same? And are injectables the answer to the eternal quest for youth?
In my opinion, injectable treatments are not the place to start and that’s my biggest concern with the industry right now. Young girls, barely adults, rush to get their lips done and their cheeks filled, putting Botox into their foreheads to treat lines that don’t even exist yet. This, I feel, is a mistake, and can often lead to these young women inadvertently ageing themselves. How many times have you seen someone with an obviously ‘done’ face and been unable to tell if she is 25 or 45? Sadly, many young women in their 20s are having numerous tweakments that over time can change their natural facial contours and make them look unrecognisable.
We now know that filler injections (those that add volume) come with complications (such as lumps and displacement or migration) and that residual filler (where some of the injected product stays in the face forever) can build up over time and stretch the skin. These are all reasons to approach such treatments with caution. Do not feel pressured into doing anything you don’t fully understand or feel comfortable with.
In society today, injectables have become normalised and in my opinion, overly commercialised. Many of my patients have no idea about potential complications or the impact of injectable treatments on their faces and features over time. They are often persuaded to have more than they need and ‘upsold’ courses of treatment that may not be appropriate.
But at the end of the day, we all want to look our best, what to do? Prevention and maintenance starts with investing in skin health and collagen-stimulating treatments. I personally prefer a holistic approach that takes into account diet and nutrition, hormones and lifestyle, with aesthetic treatments being the icing on the cake. Less is more and it’s about doing the right things at the right time – consistently – to get the best results and look like the best version of yourself. I don’t believe in the ‘quick fix’ but rather choose to focus on a long term holistic lifestyle that means you will be looking and feeling your best for many years to come.
“Getting older is a privilege but ageing well is a choice”
Dr. Rabia Malik
Let’s all focus on our internal health rather than just outward appearance, and let’s have these conversations with our teenage daughters so we can help them make good choices as they get older and see the benefits of investing in a long term approach. Let’s educate ourselves so we are not at the mercy of unscrupulous clinics who confuse and oversell.
For more information visit: drrabiamalik.com.
Images courtesy of: Photography by Florian Sommet
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s July/August 2024 issue.