Botoxed Biden?

What people are talking about in the world of science and beyond. [Water Cooler Archive] CREDIT:

Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts at WashPost wonder about Joe Biden: "Something about his eyes, which seem smaller, and his forehead, which seems smoother. Compared with images from last year, he seems better rested -- yet also, strangely, a little sleepier." They quote plastic surgeon Barry Cohen: "He clearly has had Botox."

If true it makes Biden, by last count, just another Joe. Botox is the No. 1 non-surgical cosmetic procedure done on both men and women in the United States, with 3 million total done last year. Plastic surgery in general is soaring.

In 2007, $13 billion was spent on nearly 11.7 million cosmetic procedures. Among men, the top surgical procedure is liposuction (57,980) followed by eyelid surgery (32,564) to address those baggy eyes.

Some of this stuff is no big deal, but some procedures are downright dangerous; Botox is actually Botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin; treatments can cause respiratory failure and death. See our Top 10 Crimes Against Nature

This article is from the LiveScience Water Cooler: What people are talking about in the world of science and beyond.