Every month, we aim to present you with a well-balanced combination of breaking news (such as stars disclosing the procedures they have regrets about or the latest international procedures entering the domestic market) and advice that is consistently useful, like the most effective treatments for the skin on your body or what to avoid after a nose job. However, invariably, there’s an enticing headline or viral post that doesn’t form a standalone story but is still worth sharing.
Which brings us here, to the fourth edition of This Month in Aesthetics, a recap of industry-shaping moments that we would be remiss not to mention—ranging from a significant milestone for Botox to a Bravo star’s impending breast augmentation to updated safety guidelines for Brazilian butt lifts.
Botox Celebrates 20 Years of Cosmetic Use
The year was 2002. Kelly Clarkson won American Idol, the Olympics were held in Salt Lake City, and the BlackBerry made its debut... and a small entity called Botox entered the aesthetics domain. Correct, the most recognizable brand in aesthetics has just reached 20 years. The injectable neurotoxin was initially approved by the FDA—for enhancing the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines, commonly known as “11s”—on April 15, 2002. It was a revolutionary moment and merely the start of Botox’s remarkable transformation. (Since then, it has received two additional aesthetic indications—crow’s-feet and forehead lines—making it the sole neurotoxin approved by the FDA for improving wrinkles in three distinct areas of the face.)
To commemorate this milestone birthday, Botox is hosting an immersive and interactive cross-country art installation—with stops in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles, from April 22 to May 22—as well as providing various giveaways to Botox patients who are members of their loyalty platform, Allē.
Ireland Baldwin Opts for FaceTite to Address Her Chin
Earlier this month, 26-year-old Ireland Baldwin drew the attention of the social media universe when she posted two selfies of her face wrapped in bandages. She captioned the first one with a straightforward “hey”; the second, where she was joined by her (also bandaged) cousin Alaia Baldwin, stated: “Cousins who facetite together, stay together. Shoutout @drmichaelkim.”
The model had hinted at her intention to undergo FaceTite—a radiofrequency-based skin tightening procedure often coupled with facial liposuction—a few days earlier, through a lengthy Instagram post. “I am extremely insecure about my chin. Always have been! In fact, I’m getting it fixed soon. Not going under the knife but trying an in-office procedure to see if it helps,” she wrote.
Azealia Banks Displays Her Injectable Butt Augmentation
Banks recently turned to Instagram Stories to showcase the before and after of Radiesse injections in her buttocks, writing to her 878,000 followers: “I got another round. @miami_aesthetics is doing an excellent job, it’s giving FDA-approved results. I think I want 60 more syringes of Radiesse.” (The rapper is not new to revealing her plastic surgery outcomes on social media. In 2015, she unveiled her breast augmentation in a Twitter video with the caption “new tiddies on the block.” But in January 2021, she mentioned that she was planning to have her implants removed, calling the surgery “the most foolish decision ever.”)
Lala Kent Reveals She’s Scheduled a Post-Break-Up, Post-Baby Breast Augmentation
The Vanderpump Rules star first discussed her plans for a breast augmentation on an episode of her podcast, Give Them Lala, back in January, three months after parting ways with her fiancé, film producer Randall Emmettt. “From the sound of it, it might seem like I’m getting my boobs done for men, but it’s for myself,” she said. And on an April 18 episode of the Behind the Velvet Rope With David Yotef podcast, she disclosed that she had booked the surgery. “I’m going into surgery to have my boobs done on Friday. I’ll be out of action for a short while, but as soon as I’m up and about, I’ll be showing off my new boobs to celebrate my national bestseller book.”
The 31-year-old went on to say that she has been wanting to have her breast implants redone (she was open about her initial breast augmentation on season one of Vanderpump Rules) for some time after giving birth to daughter Ocean. “I’m just eager to get them in better shape, perhaps a little larger. I’m going to regain my mojo.”
Newly Released Safety Guidelines Aim to Mitigate Risks Associated with the Brazilian Butt Lift
Despite a rise in popularity (and an 86% Worth It Rating among RealSelf members), the BBL remains one of the most closely examined procedures, with continuous inquiries regarding its safety profile (which, for the record, has improved considerably over the past few years). Enter the new BBL guidelines—just announced by Boston-based board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Del Vecchio at the 2024 meeting of The Aesthetic Society—which recommend that ultrasound be utilized during all BBLs and that providers carry out no more than three per day.
