Women are getting bizarre type of cosmetic op to look like K-pop stars

Growing numbers of women are undergoing a bizarre cosmetic procedure to sculpt their necklines and make their shoulders appear slimmer and ‘more feminine’.

Demand for so-called Barbie Botox—which involves injecting botulinum toxin into the trapezius muscles at the base of the neck—has soared, say beauty industry insiders.

Botox, best known as an anti-wrinkle jab, works by temporarily paralysing muscles. When high doses are used in the trapezius, the muscle relaxes and reduces in size, creating a longer neck and more delicate, doll-like silhouette—hence the name.

The latest trend exploded after Korean content creator Yunny, who has 47,000 Instagram followers, posted a video of herself getting the injections, saying she was inspired by the slender look of K-pop group Blackpink.

However, doctors warn the procedure carries risks. Because large doses of Botox are required to achieve the effect, patients can suffer muscle weakness, flu-like symptoms and even visible asymmetry.

Dr Parisha Acharya, lead cosmetic surgeon at Waterhouse Young clinic in London, told CNN: ‘When Botox is injected into a muscle, it stops the connection to the nerve.

‘Over time it leads to a weakening and paralysis of the muscle. Indirectly the muscle shrinks away.’

During the procedure, a clinician injects the toxin into the most prominent part of the trapezius, then places further shots in a square-shaped pattern towards the back. 

Experts stress this should only ever be carried out by qualified medical professionals. 

But if administered incorrectly, Dr Acharya warns, the procedure can paralyse the muscle completely.

‘This can be quite significant because it can affect your ability to hold your head up properly,’ she said.

Experts have sounded the alarm over the surge in women seeking the treatment purely for cosmetic reasons, fuelled by TikTok videos. They warn it could leave some with permanent muscle damage.

Dr Acharya added: ‘In the UK, the aesthetic industry is poorly regulated. So shockingly anyone can administer botulinum toxin injections.

‘That could be a beautician or hairdresser with no clinical experience, no anatomy knowledge. It really does worry me.’

She also pointed out the irony of the trend being dubbed ‘Barbie Botox’ in the wake of Greta Gerwig’s feminist reimagining of the doll—at a time when women are still being held to unrealistic beauty standards.

She said: ‘We were moving away from sexualising women’s bodies and thinking of them as just objects. 

‘I don’t like the fact that this trend is using Barbie to say we should have slim necks.’ 

Common reasons touted for undergoing the procedure included a desire to look slimmer, with many adding that sagging skin from dieting and natural ageing had made the area more noticable. 

But some women have reacted at shock at the procedure, claiming it is a massive set-back. 

‘At this rate, people are going to end up getting fillers all over their bodies’, one TikTok user said. 

Prices for the procedure vary among clinics, with effects usually lasting between three and six months. 

Harley Street Skin Clinic say their Barbie Botox starts at £750 a session, but can be more depending on how many units of Botox are needed. 

Like all surgical procedures, however, the cosmetic treatment carries risk. 

It comes as shocking new figures published this year show demand for almost all types of cosmetic surgery have risen in the past year, with the biggest increase seen in thigh lift operations.

According to the data, from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), last year saw a 24 per cent increase in patients undergoing the op. 

Brow, eye and facelifts are also surging—with the operations often touted as the only way to remedy dramatically sagging, prematurely aged ‘Ozempic face’.

BAAPS vice president, surgeon Anthony Macquillan said: ‘Post-Covid, we’ve observed a shift in patient priorities, with a greater focus on both mental and functional health.

‘This may explain the rise in procedures like abdominoplasties and breast reductions, which offer both physical and psychological benefits.

‘At the same time, the increase in facelifts could be linked to societal changes, such as the rising pension age and the desire to remain relevant in the workplace.

‘For many, this type of surgery is not just aesthetic but also functional helping to maintain confidence, secure employment, and reduce anxiety associated with age-related bias.’