The Botox Babies

By Christopher Booroff
Department of Acosmetic Surgery, University of London, UK.

The Beginning

Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Botox in 1989 it has been used widely for medical purposes. In 2002, however, the FDA approved Botox for use in the removal of frown lines and as a result the drug has been part of the recent boom in cosmetic surgery. Since then its use has become so widespread that the word Botox is now synonymous with plastic surgery itself, but not without cost.

Botox is a protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium and works by blocking nerve pulses to the offending muscle which is causing the frown lines, thus visibly reducing the wrinkle. The treatment does not drastically alter the facial appearance of the patient, at least, so they say. However, with the Botox age well and truly upon us, a startling consequence of the procedure has emerged and is rapidly spreading. Botox Babies are the genetic response to persistent usage of Botox by the child’s mother.

Botox Babies

Everyone knows that DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) makes us what we are, alter the DNA and you alter the person. However, it is less commonly known that a molecule of DNA contains the plans for thousands of proteins and, as noted in the introduction to this article, Botox is a protein. By injecting proteins into your body, you are tampering with your DNA.

“Botox Babies” suffer from a condition resulting from the modifications to their DNA caused by their parent’s Botox treatment and are unable to control or alter their facial expressions intentionally. More severe cases of the Botox Baby Syndrome (BBS) leave sufferers with the complete inability to ever transform their facial expression from the one with which they were born. Research indicates that this appearance is dictated by the moment of conception. The facial expression of the mother from this magical moment is transferred onto the baby’s face as a constant reminder of its origins, see figure one.

Figure one: Severe cases of BBS are classed by the facial expression imposed on the child. This figure indicates the five most common cases of SBBS since 1988.

Figure one: Severe cases of BBS are classed by the facial expression imposed on the child. This figure indicates the five most common cases of SBBS since 1988.

Cases of BBS had been rising steadily since 1989, see figure two, and although it was considered a problem, it was not originally thought to be connected to the Botox treatments the babies’ mothers had been receiving. As a result of this, BBS was originally mistaken as evidence of the baby suffering from an extremely low IQ (Intelligence Quotient). However, subsequent evidence of strong academic performances by some, but not all, of the “Botox Babies” coupled with the marked increase in cases that followed the second FDA approval in 2002 led scientists to reconsider. Last month a research paper (Fay Slift et al. 2005) detailing the Botox Baby Syndrome was accepted following two years of speculation and waiting. One of the key points to be made by the report was the rapid decline in the average age of patients receiving Botox treatment. This, said the researchers was “the main cause of the increase in cases since patients were increasingly having the treatment before they reached menopause” and therefore occasion-ally giving birth with their modified DNA.

Figure two: The alarming increase in cases of BBS worldwide since 1988 and the steep increase since 2002.

Figure two: The alarming increase in cases of BBS worldwide since 1988 and the steep increase since 2002.

An ironic twist to the Botox Baby Syndrome is that a further consequence of the genetic disorder is rapid ageing. Extreme cases have been reported where four-year old children have resembled fully-grown men and women, facially, thus compensating for the mother’s youthful looks by stealing the child’s own youthful complexion, see figure three. The report also indicated that as of yet insufficient evidence exists to support the theory that the father could also pass on the genetic disorder to the child should he have had Botox treatment himself. The lack of evidence stems from the notably low number of men turning to Botox, though with this on the rise, clarity should come soon.

Figure three: Four cases of Severe Botox Baby Syndrome. From left to right the four babies are photographed aged three, four, three and four respectively.

Figure three: Four cases of Severe Botox Baby Syndrome. From left to right the four babies are photographed aged three, four, three and four respectively.

The solutions?

Treatment for this condition is not yet available although it has been rumoured that a possible cure would be to remove certain muscles from the facial region in order to relax the expressions. This however would not solve the problem of controlling the expressions but simply to reduce their extremity. In addition to physical treatment it is hoped that Fay Slift’s report will stimulate far better social integration of the beleaguered babies. As of yet Botox Baby Syndrome appears to be the only case of its kind. Breast enlargements have failed to cause similar mutations in the mother’s child as have penile alterations to the male. However, it took years for BBS to be identified and it is believed that within a few years other similar conditions will be identified. “Awww! Look! She’s got her mother’s nose!”

References

Fay Slift et al. (2005). The Botox Baby Syndrome. Journal of Cosmetical Science 780, 16 - 47.

Author’s note: This article is almost entirely fictional, particularly the bits about Botox and was inspired by a conversation with Relanna, pictured far left in figure three.

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