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BOTOX®
BOTOX® is the brand name for botulinum toxin A, a type of toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium Botulinum. This toxin is responsible for the condition botulism. Botulism is a form of food poisoning that can be fatal.
BOTOX®
blocks nerve impulses to muscles by blocking the receptor site for the appropriate neurotransmitter. In other words it has a paralyzing effect. That’s what happens when it is injected beneath wrinkles and lines in your face, they are paralyzed, so the wrinkles temporarily go away.
BOTOX® is especially useful for wrinkles adjacent to the eyes and in the forehead. Tiny doses of BOTOX® are administered with a very fine needle in the areas of concern, often alleviating the wrinkles for about 3 to 6 months. This alternative is a welcome one to many individuals who have concerns about more invasive cosmetic surgical procedures.
I could not find any medical information that says applying BOTOX® topically is effective for treating wrinkles or that it is recommended. Keep in mind that BOTOX® is a drug and not a cosmetic. The FDA has issued warnings to companies that have published advertising they consider misleading to the public regarding BOTOX®. On April 15, 2002 the FDA approved the use of BOTOX® as a wrinkle reducer and it has been shown to be safe and effective for certain treatments when properly administered.
A word of caution to those seeking BOTOX® treatments is to seek out the most reputable cosmetic physician in your area. Ask for references that have received this procedure and take the time to contact them. Allergan makes the real
BOTOX® make sure that's what you are getting.
Collagen
Collagen is a natural protein located just beneath the surface of the skin that provides firmness and support. Our bodies produce less collagen as we age, which eventually leads to sagging skin, thinner lips, and weaker features. Collagen can fill in scars left by acne or chickenpox, and can smooth out vertical lines around the lips and corners of the mouth. Touch-ups may be performed two to three times per year to continue the effects. Scar improvement lasts the longest, lip enhancement the least.
The traditional collagen has a bovine (cow) source which science say is very similar to human collagen; I had no idea we had so much in common. A pre-treatment skin test is usually done to identify the less than 3% of the population who may be allergic. There is some new collagen that is said to be identical to human collagen with no skin test required; I wonder what the source is on this one.
Fat
Micro lipoinjection is a form of soft tissue augmentation that uses a patient's own fat (removed from another part of the patient's body) as a filler substance to "plump up" and contour wrinkles, furrows and hollows in the face. Donor fat is taken with a small cannula or sterile tube from troublesome fatty deposits such as buttocks or thighs, and then re-injected into the areas to be filled. Since one's own tissue is used, there is little risk of the body's rejecting it, which can occur when a foreign substance is used.
Implants
Artecoll is a new long lasting material that counteracts skin wrinkles and folds to restore your natural youthful features. It is made of inert microspheres of a material with decades of medical experience in the human body.
Gore-Tex is a soft inert, material used to fill deep grooves and depressions of the face and nose and to plump up the lips. It has been used in the body for about 30 years for blood vessel and hernia surgery, and has been proven to be safe and effective. It has multiple uses in the face to improve its contours and is an excellent filler material for long term correction.
Softform is a unique, safe, permanent implant material with a 20 year record of safety. It is soft and pliable and is used for smoothing facial wrinkles and frown lines, and to enhance the natural appearance and shape of your lips by providing a more defined lip border. It is implanted beneath the skin under local anesthesia, and results are immediate. Swelling and bruising are usually mild and disappear in a short time, leaving a smoother skin surface.
Restylane is a natural material made of hyaluronic acid which is present in all living organisms. It is used to smooth fine lines and wrinkles and to enhance the lip by working together with the body's own hyaluronic acid to create volume. Restylane is not extracted from animals and therefore there is no risk of allergic reaction. The enhanced results last up to 1 year. The duration of improvement is very individual and depends on many factors such as lifestyle, age and the individual's own skin characteristics. For the majority of patients, 50-80 percent of the effect remains after 6 months, and touchup can be done as necessary.
Hylaform is a viscoelastic gel which allows quick, easy and immediate correction for wrinkles and scars without the need for a skin test. It is injected into the skin in a painless manner to lift wrinkles, fine lines, furrows and acne scars. It is ideal as a "quick fix" to smoothen skin in those patients who don't have the time to undergo a more permanent correction. Top-up injections are needed every 5-12 months to maintain the desired level of correction.
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BOTOX® is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. |
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