A recent study reported in the BBC News finds that Botox users may actually become addicted to the procedure. Possibly easy to understand, as Botox procedures are reasonably quick, relatively painless, and allow you smoother, younger looking skin in just a few minutes. Who wouldn’t want that?

Doctors found that 40% of Botox patients expressed a strong and personally compelling desire for further treatments. In the UK, there was a 50% increase in people seeking Botox injections in 2005. Market research groups estimate that the procedure is administered in Britain at least 100,000 times per year.

In a survey of 81 clinics, researchers found:

*More than 50% of those who sought Botox felt a lack of control over their aging process

*Almost 50% were angry at being criticized for their use of Botox

*More than 40% felt they need to seek Botox treatments regularly and frequently.

*More than 50% of people using Botox reported feeling younger, rather than just looking younger.

It’s this last point that might explain the addictiveness of Botox.

Although the treatment does not seem to lead to physical addiction, it may lead to a psychological or emotional addiction, in that people who seek treatment feel out of control in their aging, and Botox gives them a way to “fight back” the aging process.

Being able to fight back aging with a quick trip to the doctor’s office might give a feeling of power, invincibility or a “high” which can lead to more treatments, more highs, more treatments, and so on.

Botox blocks the transmission of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, from the nerves to the muscle. When the flow of acetylcholine is significantly reduced, the muscle relaxes and wrinked areas them smooth out and soften.

Botox injections last about four to six months and need to be repeated to maintain similar positive effects.

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