Beneath the Surface of Botox
Jean D. Carruthers, M.D., is Clinical Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where she specializes in facial cosmetic surgery. In 1987 her husband, Dr. Alastair Carruthers, and she pioneered the cosmetic use of botulinum A exotoxin (“Botox”) that has since grown to become the most commonly performed cosmetic procedure in the world. She has been invited to give more than 200 presentations worldwide on topics in cosmetic surgery and has authored more than 250 scientific articles and book chapters. This spring, she and her husband Alastair were awarded the highest honour given by the American Academy of Dermatology – The Eugene Van Scott Award for Innovation and Philip Frost Leadership Award. Despite these accolades, the cosmetic use of Botox remains a contentious subject for many, and Dr. Carruthers has spent the better part of her professional career balancing the frank disbelief of her colleagues with the smiling faces of her loyal patients.