• Question: Shoukd scientists waste time on botox and other beauty treatment, when they could spend it on cancer research or something?

    Asked by charlottexdlurvsya to MarkF, Mark, Michael, Panos, Sarah on 18 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Michael Loughlin

      Michael Loughlin answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      some botox is used medically

      http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4888281

      to prevent excessive muscle contraction…. but yes to me its better to spend time on saving lives than having flat smooth skin

    • Photo: Sarah Burl

      Sarah Burl answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      In my view no they shouldn’t waste time on cosmetic surgery research but then I am not paying their bill. If people are prepared to pay for it then there is the money to do the research. It is just a business in the end!

    • Photo: Panos Soultanas

      Panos Soultanas answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      I don’t think many scientists care about bottox and beauty treatments. Businessmen and doctors who want to make lots of money do.

    • Photo: Mark Fogg

      Mark Fogg answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      Very good question Charlotte. Botox (you know it’s from a toxin made by the bug that gives you Botulism??… I guess you probably do) was first developed as a medical treatment. It’s used to relax muscles that are in permanent spasm (very painful, I’ve had it used on my back). So no, it isn’t a waste of time from that perspective. The use it’s put to by the cosmetics industry, to me, is questionable, but it should not detract from the medical uses for which it was originally developed.

    • Photo: Mark Travis

      Mark Travis answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      My opinion is that the best use of scientific research is to produce things that will greatly imporve the life of the world population. So, I don’t think trying to make people have a few less wrinkles on their forehead is not a good use of time for a scientist.

      But, some ‘cosmetic’ surgery, in the right circumstances is very important. If it is just a vanity thing, then not so much. But for children who have been permanently disfigured, such disfigurements can be extremely traumatising and psychologically distressing. So, I think some ‘cosmetic’ procedures can greatly imporve the lives of some people, so deserve more research.

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