Why Only an Experienced Doctor Should Do your Botox, Juvederm, Restylane and Radiesse Injections

Botox and the soft tissue fillers Juvederm, Restylane and Radiesse are revolutionary non surgical facial rejuvenation therapies. When used properly by an experienced skilled physician they produce excellent results and are safe, with very few side effects or complications

Recently there has been some publicity about the dangers of Botox® injection. However a closer inspection of reported adverse events reveals that improper injection techniques, use by unlicensed persons, and use of off label preparations have been the cause of most complications.

I have also received many emails on my saveyourface.com website from patients who have had problems with soft tissue fillers injected by other physicians. In all cases improper injection techniques were used by the physicians who treated these patients.

Understand that the manufacturers of Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse and other soft tissue fillers are allowed to sell these products to any physician, not just experienced plastic surgeons and dermatologists. Also understand that some doctors with no experience in plastic surgery, dermatology or medical aesthetics are using these new products to treat patients. In fact in some cases nurses and even aestheticians with no medical training are now doing injections.

This state of affairs can be a prescription for disaster for you, the unsuspecting patient.

I have been a plastic surgeon using injectables on my patients for 25 years and I still consider these procedures ones that require great concentration, skill and careful technique to safely get a good result.

I also do not inject soft tissue fillers like Juvederm, Radiesse and Restylane into the dark circle beneath the eye. I consider it dangerous; complications like firm visible lumps beneath the eyelid are common and often irreversible. Go to saveyourface.com and check the archives under “unhappy results” if you want to read the sad experiences of people who have had filler injections in the dark circle beneath the eye. Don’t let that happen to you.

The injectables Botox, Juvederm, Restylane and Radiesse are wonderful effective safe agents for facial rejuvenation, but they must be administered by a knowledgeable and experienced expert who uses the proper technique. Insist on it. Don’t take chances with your unique face.

These opinions are of course my own based on my 25 years of experience. I am aware that there are those that disagree with me but the plastic surgery societies, dermatology societies and many state legislatures are studying these issues at this time. My concern is patient safety

When you come to my practice you can feel confident that I will be doing your injection, very carefully and using techniques that I have determined work best.

Dr Seckel

Concord, Massachusetts

2/1/08

Possible Side Effects of Botox Injections

You may be torn between having a botox injection or not. You are certain that you want to get rid of these ugly frown lines that makes you look older than you really are. However, you are scared because of the possible side effects that it would cause.

In the first place, what is BoTox? A cosmetic treatment involves injection of bacteria called Botulinum Toxin to remove unwanted frown lines or wrinkles. Administration is usually done through a number of injections of small amounts of botox. They say that the procedure only takes 10 minutes, does not require anesthesia and causes only a minimal amount of discomfort.

They would be lying if they tell you that having a BoTox treatment would not cause any side effect. This procedure may sound simple since it is non-surgical in nature. However, what is injected into your skin is a kind of bacteria, which is foremost, a foreign body that the body would expectedly reject at first. This is aside from the fact that this bacterium is commonly found in spoiled food.

So you ask yourself this question: Why in the world do they have to use bacteria found in spoiled food? The answer is simple: you want the effect that this bacterium does, which is paralysis. Scientifically speaking, this is how it works. The botox attach to the nerve endings causing acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter that triggers muscle contractions are to become impeded. When this happens, muscles stop to contract. In fact, people may die of botulinum toxin if it attacks the respiratory system or the muscles in the chest. So going back to the botox treatment context, if this injected area of the face cannot move, it definitely cannot wrinkle. However, note that these effects are also temporary – lasting only about six to eight months.

So now you think it does not sound so bad, after all. Then, what side effects are we talking about? The more normal ones include redness at the injection site, local numbness, swelling, bruising, muscle weakness and facial pain. There can also be temporary headache, nausea and other flu-like symptoms. Some have even reported cases of upper respiratory tract infection. Other complications would include squinting, double vision, ptosis (drooping of the eyes) or even dysphasia (impairment of speech and language comprehension) in extreme cases.

These complications do not happen very often, but are still possible. It is also important to note that botox treatments are strictly not encouraged for pregnant or breastfeeding women, people who are allergic to botox or have infections in the forehead, and those who are under specific medications. You will need to consult your doctor if you have any related concerns.

They say that wrinkles on your face are supposed to be called character lines – that each you find on your tells a different story. They say that these lines mark wisdom, experience and achievement. But if you believe more in youth and appearance than wisdom and experience – then Botox is your choice.

All cosmetic procedures involves some amount of risk. Any procedure that goes contrary to what is natural is risky. However, if you think it is all worth it, go ahead.

Celebrities Love Botox

Virginia Madsen is one Hollywood star who’s open about her Botox treatments. Rather than hide them, Madsen isn’t ashamed to admit that she uses the procedure conservatively not for her fans or a guy but to feel great about herself.

“I don’t want to be 25. I’m 45. I love the way I look. I feel better than I ever have in my life,” the sexy star said.

As the model for the “Keep the Wisdom, Lose the Lines” campaign of the National Women’s Health Resource Center, Madsen hopes to educate women about injectable cosmetic treatments.

Desperate Housewives’ star Teri Hatcher can’t seem to make up her mind whether or not she loves Botox. Last year, she admitted being a Botox fan in the past but decided that she would rather age naturally and gracefully.

“I haven’t had anything done to my face in over a year. And I don’t plan to. It needs to be OK to have wrinkles,” she told fans.

This year, she told the Daily Express that she never had Botox injections nor does she plan to get them.

Since it was approved for cosmetic purposes in 2002, Botox’s popularity has grown by leaps and bounds. Celebrities like Sylvester Stallone, Elizabeth Hurley, Ryan Seacrest, Celine Dion, Madonna, Cher, Kim Cattrall, and Kylie Minogue are suspected of using it. But the Botox Club isn’t confined to TV or movie stars. Thousands of men and women all over the world rely on this non-surgical procedure to fight wrinkles and the number of converts is increasing.

“The reason Botox has become so popular is due to the simplicity of the procedure. It does not require hospital admission, there are no surgical scars, no anesthesia and the results are visible in a few days,” according to an article in MediIndia.Com.

Botox is the brand name of the botulinum toxin type A, the purified form of the toxin secreted by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. When taken in large amounts, this toxin causes the food poisoning botulism. In small doses, Botox paralyzes specific muscles and stops them from contracting. This relaxes the muscles around wrinkles and makes the latter less noticeable.

Botox is currently used by doctors as a temporary treatment for moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows, crow’s feet, and wrinkles on the forehead.

“Not all facial wrinkles benefit from Botox injections, however. Botox won’t reverse wrinkling caused by sun damage. Also, it’s less effective treating the lines around your mouth because muscles in this area are needed for eating and talking. Your skin type, skin thickness and degree of wrinkling all play a role in determining whether these injections are effective for you,” said the MayoClinic.Com.

Moreover, the procedure is not free from side effects. Adverse reactions include pain and bruising at the injection site, redness, headache, nausea, and temporary facial weakness. At the hands of an inexperienced doctor, Botox injections can be dangerous.

For your safety and protection, choose a board certified physician. If you’d rather be sure than sorry, use a product that works like Botox like the Rejuvinol AM/PM Botox Alternative Age-Defying System. This anti-aging system combines the power of the Rejuvinol morning moisturizer that creates firmer, healthier, and younger-looking skin; and the Rejuvox night cream that reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Check out http://www.rejuvinol.com for more details.

Botox for Migraines

Botox (botulinum toxin) is a neurotoxin injection. Neurotoxins are the toxin that attacks the nerve cells. Botox is the sterile and vacuum-dried form of the botulinum toxin type A. It is usually produced from the Hall strain of Clostridium botulinum. Botox can be used in conditions where the hyperactivity of muscles causes the health and medical related problems.

Botox for migraines helps to weaken or paralyze the hyper activated muscles by suppressing the release of acetylcholine, which mainly causes the transmission of nerve impulses at synapses and myoneural. This treatment can also be used for reducing the pain associated with the cervical dystonia, achalasia and rectal fissures. Botox is usually injected directly into the affected muscles.

There are different theories to explain the working of the Botox for the elimination of migraine headaches. According to one theory, as tension and spasms are the main causes of migraines, Botox eliminate the headaches by eliminating the muscle tension. It is also believed that Botox reduces the headaches by inhibiting the transmission of nerve cells. According to this theory headache is caused due to the increased amount of signals send by the nerves.

Since Botox for migraines take several weeks to take effect after the injection, it is better to not inject more than once every three months. The pain in the injected area remains for a couple of days after injecting the Botox. This can be pointed out as the main drawback of this neurotoxin. More studies are still performing on this neurotoxin.

You will need to consult their physician before taking the botulinum toxin type. Especially, the pregnant women and women who could become pregnant during the treatment must take advice from their physician. Botulinum toxin type A for migraines should never be used with any other botulinum toxin or any other medication that affect the nerves or muscles.

One of the main limitations for the use of Botox for migraines is the cost of treatment. The Botox injections are usually not covered by any insurance and the cost of Botox treatment can be around $350 for each targeted area. Hence this treatment is very expensive compared to the other migraines treatments such as the prescription drug lmitrex and nasal sprays. But the drugs like lmitrex and nasal sprays are only used as a preventative drug and are not designed to prevent all the migraine attack for up to four or more months like Botox.

Using Botox for migraines should be considered very carefully. It is still early days yet before one truly knows what all the side effects can be. There is considerable chance for occurring side effects during the Botox treatment period. Hence you are advised of the possibility of needing to take emergency medical attention if you experience any serious side effects such as an allergic reaction, difficulty in breathing, talking or swallowing, chest pain, irregular heartbeats or excessive muscl

Botox Side Effects

Everyone knows about Botox. However, not everyone knows the properties of Botox, the functions and the side effects. All we know is that Botox can helps to make us look younger and no wrinkles. Botox is a trademark name given to describe the toxin injection treatment used to treat medical conditions and cosmetic conditions. The toxin is known as Botulinum that is derived from the bacteria Clostridia. Botox is a extremely poisonous and it is naturally produced. However, with a small amount of Botox can help to treat many types of conditions.

The most popular treatment among the many treatments available would be to erase facial and neck wrinkles. Usually it is injected in between the eyebrows, forehead, deep neck and crow’s feet beside the eyes. The area you should avoid is the mouth area as if injected in the area you will have difficulty in speaking and eating. The injection is a very simple procedure and there is no need for anaesthesia. Botox is extremely powerful and effective in treating wrinkles but there is a very high price to pay, not only the money but also the side effects.

So what are the side effects? There are so many side effects using Botox but there are also many people choose to undergo this treatment despite being extremely expensive and have many side effects. After injecting Botox into the treatment area, you will experience pain and bruising. After a while, you will have a temporary facial droop if the Botox is used to treat more muscle than it is supposed to treat. Later on, you will experience headache such as migraine and nausea. Of course, these are very uncomfortable side effects you will have to bear if you choose to accept Botox treatment. However, depending on the individuals, the side effects can be different. There are some other side effects as well being reported though not everyone experience the same side effects.

More rare and severe side effects include paralysis of the body. Usually this only happens if you have been injected with fake or unapproved Botox. Others would be allergic reactions to the poison, flu-like syndromes, muscle weakness and facial paralysis. Some of them also experience blepharospasm or in other words, involuntary blinkings and excessive sweating. However, most of the side effects will wear off after 6 weeks of injection. Botox when used in a small quantity usually has a very low toxicity. However, there are people urging the FDA to regulate the spread of Botox to avoid being misused or overdosed. Overdosed in Botox usually fatal to the person thus it can be very dangerous when dealing with Botox treatment. The quantity used in the treatment must be precise.

In case of overdosage in Botox treatment, then special treatment of antitoxin combined with artificial ventilation will be needed as usually it affects the paralysis of respiratory muscles. If the treatment is given on time, then there will be chances of surviving otherwise there will be death. The recovery might takes up to months in the process.

Can Botox Make The Face Numb?

Botox is used to look younger, get those wrinkles away and have a better texture. But what if the wrong person is performing the procedure? What can happen to the face and is it permanent?!

The botox is a very strong and dangerous toxin; when used in a large amount it can cause major damage. The botox injection is a very serious procedure that should be taken seriously and made wisely.

The best place to have botox treatments with no risks and complications is at a certified clinic that has a lot of experience with botox treatments and knows how to deal with complex situations. The botox parties that became so popular are problematic because if anything happens during the injection it is not like treating the patient at the clinic with all the needed equipment.

When going to uncertified places the botox might not be preserved right, or may be cheap or an imitation. Also the person whom performs the injection has to know exactly how much to inject and where, so marks won’t be left.

The botox injections can cause: small hemorrhages, bruises, headaches for a few days, muscles numbness on the face where the injection was given and around it, saggy eyelid or saggy eyebrow, pain, nausea, infections, and more.

The complications of the botox injections can last between a few weeks to a few months. Yes it is temporary, but imagine going with a saggy eyelid to work for a whole month or trying to talk to people and smile at them, but not being able to. Imagine trying to get your face pretty and making it numb. Now, all you need to do is simple, don’t be fooled, have the injections but don’t take any risks - go only to certified places!

A few tips before you begin looking for a physician:

Botox injections need special skills and training, talk to your physician and make sure he has certifications.

The botox needs to be treated well, so make sure your physician has the right conditions for the botox and knows exactly how to work with it.

The patients should be under observation before and after the injection, so the physician will be able to tell if any changed occur.

‘botox Bandits’ Nabbed

Some women will do anything to look beautiful. Jamie Lizabeth Merk apparently decided the best way to do this was to get Botox injections for free. The 30-year-old Tampa resident was recently arrested for not paying her Botox treatment worth $850.

Merk of 228 Jean Street, Tampa was charged with one count of grand theft by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. She was released from jail after posting a $2,500 bond.

A counselor by profession, the “Botox Bandit” earlier went to the Rejuva Medi Spa on Sheldon Road in Tampa for treatment. She used a fake name, address, and simply walked away after the procedure.

“She came in, received her services, made up an excuse to go to her vehicle and left without paying. Very smooth; she knew what she was doing,” said spa technician Dawn Gardner.

However, Merk forgot that the plastic surgeon normally takes before and after pictures of patients. This identified her and led to her arrest.

“He walked in and he took her ‘before’ picture. And it was something that I don’t think she thought about and that is where she made her mistake,” Gardner said.

“It (was) just a matter of getting the right people to see the photo so that we could locate her,” added Debbie Carter of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Last year, Phoenix police arrested another Botox Bandit for skipping her $1,400 bill after being treated at the CosmediSpa at 7014 Camelback Road in Scottsdale, Arizona. Sandra Foster, 40, who introduced herself as Jamie Vons, was nabbed at the Biltmore Fashion Park. Police believe she is responsible for scamming at least three Scottsdale spas in the past few years.

Spa staff said the woman wore lots of jewelry and bragged that she had a wealthy husband in Scottsdale. After receiving her treatments, she said she left her wallet in her car. She headed outside, leaving her jacket and purse which was later found to be stuffed with toilet paper.

“The woman “acted like a pro,” and was able to ask for specific dermatologists, knowing exactly what type of treatments she would like, according to spa staff,” reported Michael Ferraresi in AZCentral.com.

“Foster was arrested after someone spotted her while shopping at Biltmore Fashion Park at 24th Street and Camelback Road,” said AZFamily.com. She was released later pending the issuance of a complaint for felony theft.

If wrinkles are giving you a hard time and you can’t afford Botox injections, don’t follow what Merk and Foster did. You can save your face without spending time in jail with the help of Dermaxin. This revolutionary anti-aging cream works just like Botox without the pain, discomfort, and side effects associated with the latter. For more information, go to http://www.dermaxin.com.

Botox Causes More Wrinkles

Botox injections may give you more wrinkles next to the ones they remove. This was revealed by doctors who said that the popular wrinkle fighter that is used by celebrities and thousands of men and women worldwide may do more harm than good in the long run.

Dr David Becker, assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, said that while Botox is safe when used properly, it eventually creates new wrinkles. This happens because the paralyzed facial muscles force other muscles to move in an effort to recreate the facial expressions that Botox has blocked.

“What can happen is that other nearby muscles compensate - this can have the effect of actually creating new wrinkles,” Becker said.

One of the areas where Botox is commonly used is the scowl line between the eyebrows. When injected, Botox temporarily paralyzes the muscles there and its freezing effects prevent people from frowning. Since there is no muscle contraction, no wrinkles are formed. But the procedure comes with a price.

“In this case, following treatment, muscles in the upper nose, middle eyebrow and eyelid may try to recreate the expression of a scowl. Repetitions of this action cause new wrinkles,” warned Becker.

“I have seen this happen, particularly when people have Botox between the eyebrows. Because they know they can’t frown in that area, they tend to over-compensate in other areas, and screw up their nose and crinkle their eyes in the effort to frown,” added Dr Patrick Bowler, chair of the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors.

Although the new wrinkles are usually less prominent, Becker said more injections are needed to treat them, creating a vicious cycle. To avoid further problems, the patient can stop treatment or use Botox elsewhere. In any case, Becker said doctors and patients should be aware of this risk.

Botox is the trade name of botulinum toxin type A, a deadly neurotoxin that comes from the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. It works by blocking the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine that is needed for muscular contractions. When muscles can’t tighten or contract, the skin flattens and appears smoother and less wrinkled. Botox takes effect in 3 – 4 days and lasts for 3 – 4 months. Repeated injections cause the muscles to thin, producing longer lasting results.

In Britain alone, over 4,000 women have Botox injections every month and Botox parties are a common sight. The affordability of this “lunch time facelift” has made Botox one of the most popular anti-aging treatments.

If you don’t want to take chances with Botox because of its possible side effects, you can try the Rejuvinol AM/PM Botox Alternative Age-Defying System. This Hollywood beauty secret consists of the Rejuvinol morning moisturizer that protects your skin from aging, the sun, and the elements; and the Rejuvox night cream that relaxes tense muscles and smoothens skin. For more information, go to http://www.rejuvinol.com.

BOTOX - The Temporary Wrinkle Solution

/>Botox has made a huge splash in the health and beauty market because of its ability to erase and minimize wrinkles. The stunning success of the BOTOX solution has had beauty enthusiasts lining up to receive their wrinkle treatments. Are botox treatments safe? After all BoTOX is a protein toxin produced by clostridium botulinum bacteria. This is the first cousin to the deadly botulism bacteria.

Botox has been safely used by opthamoligists for over a decade without any serious side effects being reported. This drug has actually been around since the early 1960’s. Originally it was used as a treatment for crossed eyes. The manner in which botox works is that it is injected into the muscle where the wrinkles appear. When the botox is injected into the muscle the frown lines, crow’s feet and laugh lines temporarily disappear. I stress the use of the word “temporary” because a botox treatment normally lasts about 3 to 6 months. Botox treatments were approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment of muscles that produce frown lines.

Botox injections have quickly become the fastest growing cosmetic procedure and are anticipated to be used on over 4.5 million patients in 2006. They are more popular than breast augmentation. Current botox patients report that after several treatments that the effects of this wrinkle cure last much longer. It is important to note that Botox is ineffective for fine wrinkles because fine wrinkles do not appear because of facial expression caused by facial muscles. On the flipside, the one negative of botox treatments is a slight and temporary drooping of the eyelid. At the present time this appears to be the most important side effect of botox treatment.

While botox has been safely used by millions of patients, it is recommended that pregnant women, or women who are breastfeeding their babies as well as patients suffering from neurologic disease should never use botox.

Botox treatments do not work for everyone. However, over 90% of patients who have been surveyed are extremely happy with this procedure. This temporary cure for wrinkles has created quite a bit of excitement in the health and beauty field. This procedure is administered by qualified plastic surgeons. The average cost for a simple botox treatment is about $200 - $400 for each area that it is applied to

Botox Side Effects - Should You Worry About Them?

Botox injections and treatments are gaining popular through mainstream society these days. Women of all ages now use it to prevent lines, wrinkles and to enhance their appearance, and older women use it to reduce the appearance of wrinkles that may have already formed.

So, what about the negative side effects of Botox? Are there any? Even though botox has gotten some bad publicity over the years, we rarely hear anything about the negative side effects of Botox.

A Little Botox History

Way back in the 1820s, a German physician by the name of Dr. Justinus Kerner set out to find answers to the deaths of German citizens who had consumed sausage. Through is research he learned that of the many that died most had been overtaken by botulism - food poisoning. OK, so that means that one negative side effect to botox is death, although it is very rare and highly unlikely these days, but you should consult a licensed physician before undergoing any procedure.

Continuing his research, Dr. Kerner also distinguished seven different strains of botulinum toxin, naming them strains A through G. But he found that only four strains - A, B, E, and F - are life threatening to humans.

Mid-Century Development

During the mid 1950s and 60s, two other doctors, Drs. Edward J. Schantz and Vernon Brooks experimented further into botulinum toxin , using controversial animal testing techniques that could not be used today because of their cruelty and inaccurate results. Nevertheless, the two doctors found that botulinum toxin type A, despite its risk to humans, was very effective for treating people with crossed eyes and spastic vocal cords. So, ok, something that could potentially kill us can, in small doses, be helpful in relieving muscle spasms of all kinds.

The Birth of Botox

The Year is 1989, and the FDA approved botulinum toxin type A for treatment of crossed eyes and eye muscle spasms. Through a miracle of marketing genius, the botulism poison that had once killed German sausage eaters was renamed “Botox” and treatments took off like wildfire. Through further experimentation it was found that Botox also temporarily cured excessive sweating and some symptoms of cerebral palsy. After the botox treatments, patients were monitored closely for any negative side effects of Botox treatments.

A breakthrough in keeping us looking younger was on the horizon. In the 1990s, Dr. Jean Carruthers noticed that many of the patients being treated with Botox were surprisingly wrinkle-free. Using this information, Dr. Carruthers and her husband, a dermatologist, conducted various clinical studies that confirmed the ability of Botox to reduce frown lines and wrinkles on the human face.

Botox Now

Today, Botox is so widely accepted that you can go to a botox party and have your lips injected right on the spot. The fear of negative side effects is almost none existent. So much so that Botox Sales in 2006 exceeded $1 billion. Starting out as a deadly poison killer Botox has quickly transformed itself into a successful cosmetic treatment that helps millions of people look younger everyday.

Botox also remains a staple for non-cosmetic treatments, like reducing muscle spasms in cerebral palsy patients, uncrossing eyes, and relieving patients of embarrassing facial twitches and spasms. Botox treatments are not permanent and must be repeated every three to six months. Most patients are so pleased with the results that they ave no problem returning to the doctor regularly for scheduled treatments. The early fears of botox no longer prevail and although there are a low number of cases each year that result from negative side effects of botox, it is clear that botox is here to stay.

Botox Colorado

Medical Botox Procedure in Colorado