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Pretty Poison
Is Botox* Right for You?
Worried about wrinkles? Concerned about creases? Livid over lines? A smooth-as-silk simper may just be a needle-prick away. Injection treatments have been found to dramatically smooth furrowed brows, frown lines and crow's feet. That rumble you hear is the stampede of patients - over 100,000 a year - running, not walking, to the doctor's office.
Remember that old saying: "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger"? Well, with today's cutting-edge medicine, it's a case of "what doesn't kill you makes you prettier." Injection treatments targeting the facial muscles are derived from one of the most toxic substances on the planet - so toxic, in fact, it has been considered as a method of attack in germ warfare. What is actually injected, though, is a muscle relaxant produced by the bacteria.
Botox* injections paralyze the motor nerve beneath the skin that controls certain facial muscles. This prevents the wrinkle lines caused by squinting, frowning, and raising the eyebrows. But while the muscle can't move, the skin retains its normal sensation and motion. Each treatment lasts between 3-8 months. Younger (twenty-something) patients and patients with fewer wrinkles have the added benefit of preventing further etching of the skin.
SIDE EFFECTS
Injection treatments have been used for over 20 years to correct facial tics, relieve muscle spasms with cerebral palsy, and to relax the eye muscles responsible for lazy eye. Recent studies have even indicated these treatments may also alleviate migraine headaches. Its widespread use as a cosmetic procedure is relatively recent, but to date there have been no reported serious side effects.
One reason is the dosage. Only 10-40 units are used per treatment; it would take over 3,000 units of the stuff to kill a person.
A temporary side effect can be a slight droopiness in an eyelid; this can be treated with prescription eye drops, and in any case wears off in about a week. (The incidence of this is a measly 1%).
COST
Botox* injections cost as much as $300 to $900 per treatment. The price is on par with collagen treatments, and poses less risk of an allergic reaction. In order to minimize the risk of bruising, candidates should avoid taking aspirin, alcohol and vitamin E one week before the treatment; patients must not rub the injection area or lie down for 4-5 hours immediately afterwards, as a precaution against spreading the toxin to other muscles.
ALTERNATIVES
The Ageless Woman® Deep Wrinkle Relaxer is a revolutionary facial serum that works naturally to smooth and soften deep expression lines caused by repeated facial movements such as smiling and frowning. Ageless Woman® contains the power of HydraFusion TechnologyTM, an anti-aging peptide, which is clinically shown to soften and reduce the severity of deep lines and wrinkles by up to 27% in just 30 days. It works fast to dramatically change the way your skin looks without paralyzing your muscles.
SIDE AFFECTS:
None reported.
COST:
$50 for a 0.5 FL. OZ.
For more information visit: deepwrinklerelaxer.com 
*Botox® is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc. |
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