HEALTHY LIVING TIPS

What is Botox?

Quite simply, Botox is a type of toxin produced by the bac­terium Clostridium botulinum. If you’re thinking that some­thing sounds familiar about this substance, that’s because this bacterium is the same one that causes botulism, or food poi­soning. It’s also the same bacterium that some countries stockpile as a bacterial weapon. You might be wondering if this is a substance you would want injected into your face.

Thanks to the wonders of medical technology, injecting Botox into the face isn’t only possible, it’s being done thou­sands of times a day, and safely. In the late 1970s, scientists discovered that botulinum toxin, when it was diluted to a great degree, had some very positive characteristics, proper­ties that could bring significant relief to thousands of people who had specific neuromuscular problems throughout the body. And after years of science and serendipity, experts discovered that botulinum toxin A (the bacterium has eight different toxins, or serotypes, each named for a letter of the alphabet) has cosmetic uses as well, especially when it comes to getting rid of wrinkles in the upper third of the face–that is, along the forehead and at the outer corners of the eyes. If you’re familiar with the concept of homeopathy, you’ll see a similarity with Botox.

In homeopathy, a substance– sometimes one that is poisonous when taken at regular strength, such as arsenic–is diluted to such a tremendous de­gree that when it is finally ingested, it is completely safe. Bot­ulinum toxin is extremely potent, but Botox injections contain a greatly diluted form of the toxin, rendering the in­jection safe yet effective.

Injections of Botox, one of the fastest-growing cosmetic procedures on the market today, are used for the reduction or elimination of facial wrinkles caused by dynamic, or hyper-functional, muscles (muscles that get a lot of use). Those are the wrinkles that form when you contract your facial muscles to form a frown, squint, grimace, smile, or other type of expression, resulting in those tell-tale lines around your eyes, mouth, or nose, and across your forehead. Botox can be very effective in temporarily getting rid of some, but not all, of your facial wrinkles. But before we talk about which wrin­kles Botox can banish, let’s find out more about this popular substance.

How Botox Can Help?

Every year in the United States, millions of men and women undergo one or more cosmetic procedures that in some way enhance or change their ap­pearance. From chemical peels to nose reconstruction to eyelid tucks, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and other cos­metic surgeons across the country are reshaping the way Americans look, and as a result, how they feel about them­selves. Own up to it: you may believe the old adage that wrinkles add character to a face . . . but you don’t want it to be your face, at least not just now when you’re thirty or forty or fifty. You want to look as young as you feel and be as naturally beautiful as you can be. And why shouldn’t you?

The desire to look young and beautiful is far from new. Since ancient times, both men and women have searched for ways and concocted formulas to look more youthful. Eye and face cosmetics were used by the ancient Egyptians, the most famous of whom is Cleopatra, who was known to use lactic acid to peel her skin to look more beautiful. Archaeologists have found formulas, written on papyrus, that explain how to prepare mixtures of plants and honey for women to use as facials. Archaeological digs have also uncovered many con­tainers that once held green malachite, black antimony powder, and lead sulfide, all types of minerals that were ground up and used as cosmetics.

Ancient people even performed crude cosmetic procedures to improve–in their opinion–people’s appearance. In west­ern Russia, for example, a broad, flat nose was considered beautiful, so parents would bind the nose of a child to achieve this result. Because the Chinese believed that dainty feet were a sign of wealth and beauty, the practice of binding the feet of girls to prevent foot growth existed for thousands of years. Among some African tribes, an elongated neck is considered a thing of beauty, so some women keep adding rings around their necks to gradually stretch it to a desirable length.

Modern-Day Botox Procedures

As we’ve seen, there have always been people who are willing to undergo different procedures or use various products to help them look young and beautiful. Apparently many people still feel similarly. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, 623,588 Botox procedures were performed in 1999, two years before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) even approved Botox injections for cosmetic use. These procedures, which were done to reduce or eliminate wrinkles on various sites on the face and neck, are known as “off-label” uses (once a drug has been approved for one use, it can legally and ethically be used for other purposes, at the discre­tion of the practitioner). Botox has been approved for various medical (that is, noncosmetic) uses since 1989. And its off-label uses for cosmetic purposes continue to grow: in 2000, the number of procedures was 730,787; in 2001, it ballooned to 913,484.

With the new FDA approval of Botox on April 15, 2002, for removal of frown lines–also known as glabellar lines– on the forehead, experts believe the number of procedures will greatly surpass the million mark. Right now, only one other cosmetic procedure–chemical peels–is performed more often: more than two million people undergo them each year. And some combine a chemical peel with Botox injec­tions to get rid of wrinkles and improve skin texture. It’s important to note that the only cosmetic use the FDA has approved Botox for is the removal of glabellar lines. However, doctors have been using Botox for cosmetic reasons in this and other areas of the face for about ten years. Some of the wrinkle sites, like smile lines that run from the nose to the corners of the mouth and down the sides of the mouth, do not respond as well to Botox be­cause the facial lines that form there are not as strongly muscle-driven as those in the other regions. However, Botox can be used along with other cosmetic procedures to get the look you desire.

But overall, the risks of Botox, when administered by a knowledgeable professional, have been very low. And this safety factor has fueled a growing interest in Botox among people of all ages. Botox injections have become all the rage, and not just among aging baby boomers. Approximately 17 percent of the people who underwent Botox injections in 2000 were be­tween the ages of nineteen and thirty-four, hardly an agegroup one usually associates with bothersome wrinkles and aging skin problems. By far the largest percentage of Botox users was the 35 to 50 age group, at 41 percent. Those in the 51 to 64 age group counted for 29 percent, with men and women 65-plus rounding out the total at 13 percent.

As of spring 2001, about 12 percent of those getting Botox injections were men. And the number of men seeking Botox injections is expected to grow. Botox is an easy, convenient way to accomplish the look they want. And it’s not just actors, jet-setters, and chief executive of­ficers who are lining up for their injections. Even construction workers, police officers, social workers, and others from all walks of life are looking to get rid of wrinkles.

So why is everyone doing it? Well, you may want to look younger to help advance your career. For some industries, pleasant looking is a must, and you’d better look young and vital to stay in the game.

By: Steven James

About the Author:

BOTOX ALTERNATIVES

Injections of Botox, one of the fastest-growing cosmetic procedures on the market today, are used for the reduction or elimination of facial wrinkles caused by dynamic, or hyper-functional, muscles (muscles that get a lot of use). Those are the wrinkles that form when you contract your facial muscles to form a frown, squint, grimace, smile, or other type of expression, resulting in those tell-tale lines around your eyes, mouth, or nose, and across your forehead. Botox can be very effective in temporarily getting rid of some, but not all, of your facial wrinkles. But before we talk about which wrin­kles Botox can banish, let’s find out more about this popular substance.

How Botox Can Help?

Every year in the United States, millions of men and women undergo one or more cosmetic procedures that in some way enhance or change their appearance. From chemical peels to nose reconstruction to eyelid tucks, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and other cosmetic surgeons across the country are reshaping the way Americans look, and as a result, how they feel about them­selves.

What is Botox?

Quite simply, Botox is a type of toxin produced by the bac­terium Clostridium botulinum. If you’re thinking that some­thing sounds familiar about this substance, that’s because this bacterium is the same one that causes botulism, or food poi­soning. It’s also the same bacterium that some countries stockpile as a bacterial weapon. You might be wondering if this is a substance you would want injected into your face.

Thanks to the wonders of medical technology, injecting Botox into the face isn’t only possible, it’s being done thousands of times a day, and safely. In the late 1970s, scientists discovered that botulinum toxin, when it was diluted to a great degree, had some very positive characteristics, proper­ties that could bring significant relief to thousands of people who had specific neuromuscular problems throughout the body. And after years of science and serendipity, experts discovered that botulinum toxin A (the bacterium has eight different toxins, or serotypes, each named for a letter of the alphabet) has cosmetic uses as well, especially when it comes to getting rid of wrinkles in the upper third of the facethat is, along the forehead and at the outer corners of the eyes. If you’re familiar with the concept of homeopathy, you’ll see a similarity with Botox.

In homeopathy, a substance sometimes one that is poisonous when taken at regular strength, such as arsenicis diluted to such a tremendous de­gree that when it is finally ingested, it is completely safe. Botaulinum toxin is extremely potent, but Botox injections contain a greatly diluted form of the toxin, rendering the in­jection safe yet effective.

The Desire to look young

Own up to it: you may believe the old adage that wrinkles add character to a face . . . but you don’t want it to be your face, at least not just now when you’re thirty or forty or fifty. You want to look as young as you feel. And why shouldn’t you?

The desire to look young and beautiful is far from new. Since ancient times, both men and women have searched for ways and concocted formulas to look more youthful. Eye and face cosmetics were used by the ancient Egyptians, the most famous of whom is Cleopatra, who was known to use lactic acid to peel her skin to look more beautiful. Archaeologists have found formulas, written on papyrus, that explain how to prepare mixtures of plants and honey for women to use as facials. Archaeological digs have also uncovered many con­tainers that once held green malachite, black antimony powder, and lead sulfide, all types of minerals that were ground up and used as cosmetics.

Ancient people even performed crude cosmetic procedures to improvein their opinionpeople’s appearance. In west­ern Russia, for example, a broad, flat nose was considered beautiful, so parents would bind the nose of a child to achieve this result. Because the Chinese believed that dainty feet were a sign of wealth and beauty, the practice of binding the feet of girls to prevent foot growth existed for thousands of years. Among some African tribes, an elongated neck is considered a thing of beauty, so some women keep adding rings around their necks to gradually stretch it to a desirable length.

Modern-Day Cosmetic Procedures

As we’ve seen, there have always been people who are willing to undergo different procedures or use various products to help them look young and beautiful. Apparently many people still feel similarly. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, 623,588 Botox procedures were performed in 1999, two years before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) even approved Botox injections for cosmetic use. These procedures, which were done to reduce or eliminate wrinkles on various sites on the face and neck, are known as “off-label” uses (once a drug has been approved for one use, it can legally and ethically be used for other purposes, at the discre­tion of the practitioner). Botox has been approved for various medical (that is, noncosmetic) uses since 1989. And its off-label uses for cosmetic purposes continue to grow: in 2000, the number of procedures was 730,787; in 2001, it ballooned to 913,484.

FDA-Approved for Cosmetic Use

With the new FDA approval of Botox on April 15, 2002, for removal of frown lines also known as glabellar lines on the forehead, experts believe the number of procedures will greatly surpass the million mark. Right now, only one other cosmetic procedure chemical peel performed more often: more than two million people undergo them each year. And some combine a chemical peel with Botox injec­tions to get rid of wrinkles and improve skin texture. It’s important to note that the only cosmetic use the FDA has approved Botox for is the removal of glabellar lines. However, doctors have been using Botox for cosmetic reasons in this and other areas of the face for about ten years. Some of the wrinkle sites, like smile lines that run from the nose to the corners of the mouth and down the sides of the mouth, do not respond as well to Botox because the facial lines that form there are not as strongly muscle-driven as those in the other regions. However, Botox can be used along with other cosmetic procedures to get the look you desire.

But overall, the risks of Botox, when administered by a knowledgeable professional, have been very low. And this safety factor has fueled a growing interest in Botox among people of all ages.

Botox injections have become all the rage, and not just among aging baby boomers. Approximately 17 percent of the people who underwent Botox injections in 2000 were be­tween the ages of nineteen and thirty-four, hardly an agegroup one usually associates with bothersome wrinkles and aging skin problems. By far the largest percentage of Botox users was the 35 to 50 age group, at 41 percent. Those in the 51 to 64 age group counted for 29 percent, with men and women 65-plus rounding out the total at 13 percent.

As of spring 2001, about 12 percent of those getting Botox injections were men. And the number of men seeking Botox injections is expected to grow. Botox is an easy, convenient way to accomplish the look they want. And it’s not just actors, jet-setters, and chief executive of­ficers who are lining up for their injections. Even construction workers, police officers, social workers, and others from all walks of life are looking to get rid of their wrinkles.

Why is everyone doing it? You may want to look younger to help advance your career. For some industry, pleasant looking is a must, and you’d better look young and vital to stay in the game.

By: Kenji Matsuhara

About the Author:

RESTYLANE ALTERNATIVES

Women have a few things for which they would do everything womanly possible to avoid having in their bodies; two examples are scars and skin disorders. But when it comes to the list of what women do not really want, nothing comes close to cellulite. Cellulite is such a big deal for women that many have risked money and life to find the cure for this unsightly fatty deposit which can develop in almost every part of a woman’s body.

But what really is the big deal about cellulite in women? Well, the answer lies on how women value their looks. You can say that the quest for beauty is deeply ingrained inside a woman’s brain since birth. And in this regard, cellulite is seen as a big opposition to the whole idea of being beautiful and attractive. No, it is not at all about being vain; but nobody really wants to feel unwanted and awfully insecure.

If you are one of these women, chances are, you are already desperate in finding the ultimate cellulite solution. Exercise all you want, but the cellulite in your thighs and hips will hardly get smaller because cellulite can be a stubborn bunch of fatty deposits. And they make all your efforts at staying in shape more complicated and, sometimes, frustrating. Cosmetic procedures can be as useless too; in fact, there have been cases where surgical removals have worsened the appearance of cellulite.

Before you can totally eliminate cellulite from your thighs, hips, arms and tummy, you must know what makes cellulite tick. If you want to win the fight against cellulite, you must be able to ignore the myths by focusing on the facts about cellulite. And here they are.

Cellulite Develops Only In Old People

False. Studies have shown that cellulite can develop across all age brackets from teenagers to women in their twilight years. The occurrence of cellulite starts even before you reach your twenties and, if left as it is, this fatty lump can grow larger as you become older.

Cellulite Exists Only In The Lower Parts Of The Body

Not true. If you think that your thighs and backside are the only parts of the body that are prone to develop cellulite, you are dead wrong. Cellulite lumps can develop in the arms, waistline, and even the back of your neck.

Cellulite Is Only For Fat Women

Again, wrong! While cellulite is often described as an unwanted fatty deposit, it can also be present in thin women. As a woman, your body is designed to store fat to support your body against the impacts of bodily functions like menstruation where you lose blood and pregnancy where you need more nutrients for you and your baby. Thus, even if overweight women are more predisposed to develop lumps of cellulite in the body, thin women are not totally spared from cellulite growth.

Cellulite Is The Same As Fat

You can relate to cellulite as lumps of fat, but you can not equate fat and cellulite. While fat can be reduced through regular exercise and proper diet, cellulite, on the other hand, is more resistant to common fat burning methods. Cellulite appears as fat lumps that are tightly entangled between several layers of your skin; making it harder to beat than fat.

Over the decades, staying in shape has become a tougher job for most women. The pressure to get rid of cellulite is there and the need to have great shape is there. But over the years, being able to understand the nature of cellulite, scientists and beauty experts have been able to come up with more active and effective ways of getting rid of cellulite.

From specialized massages to creams like Celluthin, you now have a better chance of reducing or eliminating the appearance of cellulite in the body, without undergoing surgery or exercising yourself to death. For more information about defeating cellulite, click on www.Celluthin.com.



By: Sharon Bell

About the Author:

ADRENAL WEIGHT LOSS

Strong, healthy teeth and big, white smiles are highly sought after, but sadly they’re not something nature tends to deliver. To achieve a perfect smile, many have to turn to dentistry for help. But with the large number of professionals available in metropolitan areas, how does someone go about finding the best cosmetic dentist New York can offer?

Of course, dental patients can always pick up a telephone book and play pick a dentist, any dentist, but is this really the best way to find a specialist to create a perfect smile? Absolutely not!

Finding the best cosmetic dentists in New York requires a little research, which should be more than worth it for the end result. Considering the fact the dentist you choose will have your smile and your appearance in his or her hands, some research is certainly in order.

Before you rush in and choose the first cosmetic dentist in New York that you find, check out credentials, shop around, take advantage of free consultations and even take the time to visit several dentists.

Here are some specifics to look for in a New York cosmetic dental specialist:

Training: Make sure the dentist you’re choosing has a background in cosmetic dentistry. This is a specialty beyond typical dentistry. You also want to find a dentist that has lots of experience in the field.

Straight shooter: You want a dentist who will be honest about the time, costs and what realistically can be achieved. Dentists who promise the moon rather than reasonable results might be worth steering clear of.

A good listener: It’s important your dentist and you establish a good line of communication. When it comes to cosmetic work, there’s no room for guessing. If you want one end result and he or she envisions another, the fit isn’t there. Make certain you feel comfortable with the dentist, or don’t bother. Cosmetic procedures often cost a fair amount of money and they require an investment in time as well.

Photos: Don’t turn down the chance to see before and after pictures. These are great for showing what skills and talents the cosmetic dentist has mastered. Look for those that match the kind of work you’d like done as well and be sure to convey this to the dentist.

Don’t worry about sounding too pushy if you ask a lot of questions. Good dentists will want to put your mind at ease before they start working on you. Plus, they’ll want to understand your expectations and should be able to offer up different suggestions for attaining those results. The time you spend on the front end finding a cosmetic dentist that meets your needs and has good skills to match is a good investment.

Finding the best cosmetic dentist New York has to offer your particular case might require some homework. Even if one dentist comes highly recommended, he or she might not be the one for you. Check them out, look around and be certain to ask questions. After all, it’s your smile on the line.



By: Ray La Foy

About the Author:

FREE AT HOME TEETH WHITENING