Vladimir Putin: Botox rumours fuelled but failing health claims rebuffed

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Vladimir Putin: Botox rumours fuelled but failing health claims rebuffed


A defence expert has spoken about Vladimir Putin’s alleged Botox obsession, while also throwing doubt on claims the Russian President’s health is failing.

Once again, speculation is rife about Vladimir Putin’s alleged affinity for cosmetic injectables, with one defence expert claiming the Russian leader is essentially trying to “embalm himself”.

Rumours the 69-year-old has undergone multiple cosmetic procedures have been around for years, with one respected defence analyst now adding even more fuel to the fire.

King’s College London fellow, Professor Michael Clarke, claimed the Russian President was regularly injected with Botox.

“On October 7 he will be 70. He is known to hit the Botox quite heavily, I always say that he’s trying to embalm himself while he’s still alive – he does take a lot of Botox,” he told Sky News during a live Q&A session.

Prof Clarke said Mr Putin is never far away from his team of doctors, even claiming that he is known to leave in the middle of meetings to speak with health professionals.

“He moves around with doctors, there’s known to be a little team of doctors who are never far away, and it’s said that he leaves meetings at frequent intervals to go and consult with somebody,” he said.

However, the defence expert threw cold water on speculation that the Russian President’s health was failing, saying he suspected he is “only a hypochondriac”.

Rumours that the leader is suffering from cancer, Parkinson’s disease or early stage dementia have been swirling since the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Since then, footage has emerged showing Mr Putin appearing to struggle during meetings and public appearances.

A recent clip captured the President appearing unstable, swaying back and forth, after he awarded filmmaker Nikita Mikhailov the State Prize of the Russian Federation on Sunday.

However, Prof Clarke said these types of videos are not solid proof that Mr Putin is having health problems.

“When you see him in these clips that we’re seeing increasingly frequently now that Covid is over and he’s now coming out of the shadows, where he’s been for over two years, and he’s making it clear that he’s in control – he looks all right,” he said.

“I’ve spoken to a number of people who say you cannot detect Parkinson’s disease from the way he walks, you cannot detect symptoms of cancer just by looking at photographs.”

He said there was no “convincing evidence” that the leader is in poor health.

The relentless speculation recently forced the Kremlin to deny the rumours, with one of Mr Putin’s top advisers claiming any “sane” person could see the leader is not sick.

“President Vladimir Putin makes public appearances on a daily basis,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a French media outlet.

“You can see him on TV screens, read and listen to his speeches. I don’t think that a sane person can suspect any signs of an illness or ailment in this man.”

Asked what would happen if it was confirmed Mr Putin was ill, Prof Clarke said one way out for the Kremlin would be to say he has stepped down.

In that case, he believes the current war in Ukraine would then be continued by Nikolai Patrushev, who is reportedly “every bit as nasty” as Mr Putin.

“At least it would be a change of face which the West might then be able to do something with, but that’s just a side possibility, really,” he said.

Tough guy image

This is far from the first time rumours about Mr Putin undergoing cosmetic procedures have been voiced, with some cosmetic surgeons believing they have been done in a bid to improve his tough guy image.

There are claims he has had several cosmetic procedures over the years, including Botox, cheek fillers, and a chin and eye lift.

Speculation first began swirling that Mr Putin had received Botox when he attended a meeting in Kyiv in 2011 with a black eye.

Many suggested the bruise could be the result of the filler, with an article from Russian New Times magazine quoting four plastic surgeons who agreed the bruise was likely from forehead Botox injections.

His appearance generated so much speculation that a spokesperson for the leader had to issue a denial, claiming it was “probably how the light fell” and that Mr Putin was “tired”.

Leading UK cosmetic surgeon Gerard Lambe said cheek fillers probably played a large part in Mr Putin’s changed appearance.

He told The Sun that most people’s faces become thinner with age, but the Russian leader’s has become noticeably wider and more plump.

“I’d say he’s clearly got a dedicated aesthetic surgeon on his team as these fillers were certainly quite subtle to start,” Dr Lambe said.

“In images from years ago he certainly looks much more gaunt and craggy but some work has been done to create a youthful, fuller contour with fillers.”

Dr Lambe said it’s possible Mr Putin has also had an eye and chin lift at some point in the last few years.

“I can also see a subtle upper eye lift and quite likely a chin lift – giving him a much more alert and fresher look,” he said.



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