Transcript Botox injections are one of the most popular cosmetic

BEAUTY WITH BOTOX
Botox injections are one of the most popular
cosmetic treatments in the world. Celebrities like Madonna,
Kylie Minogue and Liz Hurley are rumoured to be keeping the
wrinkles at bay this way.
Two years ago Sir Cliff Richard admitted to having
had the treatment and now it is an increasingly popular choice
for ordinary women looking for a quick way to look younger.
What is Botox ???
Botox is made from 'botulinum toxin',
a poison produced by the bacterium
Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium
causes botulism - a severe form of food
poisoning. In small quantities, however, Botox
merely interrupts nerve impulses to muscles in
the face.
Botox first began to be used in 1980 to
treat many muscle disorders such as lazy eye,
eye ticks and uncontrolled blinking. Cosmetics
treatments were pioneered by dermatological
surgeons in 1987.
In small doses, Botox
works by paralysing the
muscles of the face which
are used in frowning and
raising the eyebrows. When
these muscles relax, the fine
lines and wrinkles smooth
out.
Before…
Unfortunately, when it
is overdone, Botox treatment
can leave the face with a
lack of expression. This is
reputed to have caused a
problem for some actors.
Fashion fads in history
Men and women have been prepared to suffer for the
sake of their appearance for centuries. During her reign,
Queen Elizabeth I started a fashion for pale skin. Ladies began
to paint their faces with a cream made from powdered white
lead, egg white and vinegar.
These creams gave the face a shiny appearance and
smiling could easily 'crack' the face. The noxious effects of the
lead paint caused many problems and even some deaths. In
the 1700s, black patches were stuck to the skin to cover the
scars caused by toxic face creams
Baby faces are beautiful…
Nowadays, movie stars such as Cameron Diaz
are seen by many as the ideal of beauty. In fact, the attraction
of young faces may have a scientific explanation. Big, widespaced eyes, plump cheeks and soft, unmarked skin are
sometimes retained into maturity.
These faces are the ones found to be the most
eye-catching. In scientific studies, pictures of people with
'baby faces' inspired feelings of affection and care in those
tested.
Cosmetic treatments are increasingly popular
because they are quicker, less painful and more subtle than
plastic surgery. Many treatments are being hailed as a 'lunch
hour' facelift because of their speed.
How long does it last?
Injections take effect about three to
seven days after treatment and the effect lasts
three or four months. A treatment costs roughly
£200. With repeated treatments, atrophy or
thinning of the muscles occurs, which produces
longer lasting results. Botox may be unsuitable
for use around the mouth as the muscles there
are important for facial expressions and eating.
Side effects
Soreness or mild bruising can occur around
the injection site. In rare instances patients may experience a
droopy eyebrow or eyelid. Headaches can also occur. Since it
is still a relatively new treatment, any possible side effects of
long-term use are still unknown. Botox should only be
administered by experienced and well-trained doctors or
nurses. A high dose could cause poisoning, or an exaggerated
effect.
Botox and Bollinger
Botox parties are causing concern amongst
practitioners. People are receiving treatments whilst sipping
champagne. The American Academy of Dermatology has
warned against this practice. Alcohol and Botox do not mix
well.
Not only can booze intensify bruising but it
can also wash the toxin away from the target muscle.
Injecting Collagen, Silicone and Fat
Collagen, silicone and fat are
known as 'injectible fillers', because
they have a wide range of uses - from
filling out acne scars and wrinkles to
plumping up lips. Melanie Griffith is
famously rumoured to have used
collagen injections to create her beesting pout. Liz Hurley and Pamela
Anderson are also thought to have
chosen this option.
Collagen
Injectible collagen is a liquid made from the connective
tissue of cows or pigs and is inserted under the skin for cosmetic
purposes. Eventually the body metabolises the collagen. The effects
generally last between a few months and a year and a half. So collagen
injections have to be repeated regularly.
Side effects
About 3% of the population is allergic to collagen, so
testing needs to be carried out before treatment.
Before...
This involves injecting collagen into the forearm and
watching for a reaction over a month. But the allergy test is not perfect
and a small percentage of people who have passed the test will go on
to develop an allergy during treatment. Allergies lead to
rashes
joint and muscle pain
headache
blistering
Soreness
...and after
Silicone
Liquid silicone is also used in much
the same way as collagen. Side effects include:
movement of the silicone to other parts of the
body bruising discoloration of surrounding
tissues
Fat
Fat is harvested from other parts of
the patient's body and then injected into the
lips or around wrinkles. It is often used to fill
out sunken cheeks. This treatment avoids any
allergy problems but is a more complicated
and time-consuming procedure.
Cosmetic Peels
A peel is a treatment that involves wounding
the skin by taking away the top layers. Afterwards,
the new skin underneath heals to form a top layer,
which is smoother and brighter than before. Peels
can be done using chemicals, abrasives or lasers.
Many cosmetic surgeons recommend them as a topup treatment following a face-lift.
A chemical solution is applied to the skin. It
then blisters off over a period of up to 14 days. After
this, healed skin is smoother and brighter. Chemical
peels are often used to treat fine lines around the
eyes and mouth. Sags, bulges and more severe
wrinkles do not respond well.
The depth of the peel depends on the type
of chemical used. Mild peels are performed using
alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), glycolic acid or some fruit
acids. The strongest and deepest peels use phenol.
Microdermabrasion
Another popular type of peel is
'microdermabrasion' where the top
layers of skin are literally sanded
off. Over a million Americans
booked this treatment last year.
A spray of sterile microparticles such as fine aluminium
oxide, diamond or salt crystals is
applied to the skin. The particles
and the dead skin are then literally
vacuumed out.This treatment
removes the top layer of skin along
with:
blackheads
whiteheads
minor lines
discolorations
large pores
scaly textures
LASERS
Lasers produce a single wavelength or colour of light, which can be
varied in intensity. In cosmetic treatments, the energy of a laser is
used to vaporize the top layers of skin.This method of resurfacing the
skin has a similar effect as a chemical peel or microdermabrasion. It is
often used to remove smoker's lines around the lips.Laser resurfacing
is still a relatively new procedure, but its popularity is growing fast.
There is often less scarring and pain than other peel procedures. The
laser can penetrate the skin to precisely controlled depths. Light laser
treatments only penetrate the epidermis and papillary dermis. Deeper
ones remove the reticular dermis.
Side effects
Badly practised laser treatments can
cause burns and scarring. There is also a
minimal risk of permanent colour change to
the skin. Olive and black skins are more prone
to this.
Deeper laser surgery
Lasers can be used in other ways to
improve skin quality. In some procedures, the
laser penetrates beneath the top layers of skin
to stimulate collagen growth in the lower
layers. This tightens the underlying skin,
improving skin tone and removing fine lines.
This is a popular technique that has few side
effects and rapid healing.
THANK YOU…..