HEALTHY LIVING TIPS

What Is Botox?

Derived from the botulinum toxin type A, Botox is a brand name for a highly purified and diluted preparation of botulinum used in numerous medical and cosmetic applications. It is also sold under the names Dysport and Myobloc. Botox is most widely known for its use in removing wrinkles.

While the botulinum toxic itself is highly poisonous and even deadly, the same toxin in smaller doses can be used to safely treat a variety of conditions. Botox is most widely known for its use in removing wrinkles, but is also has numerous medical applications.

Botox was first used in medicine to treat strabismus, a condition in which a person’s eyes do not align normally, and blepahrospasm, or uncontrolled blinking. Today, Botox is the most commonly performed cosmetic operation in America, with over four and a half million people getting the treatment in 2007.

Does Botox Work?

Botox does work to lessen the appearance of wrinkles, but this effect is temporary and has a host of risks attached, including paralysis of the wrong muscles and changes in facial expressions. So is Botox a fountain of youth or just poison injected into your face? Like so many things in life, the answer isn’t black and white, and while this answer many not satisfy some readers, both are true to a certain extent.

What Is Botox Used For?

Cosmetically, Botox is only FDA approved for use in smoothing out wrinkles in the forehead between the eyebrows, reducing crow’s feet, forehead lines and frown lines. Additionally, Botox is used to treat various medical conditions, including:

Achalasia – an esophageal disorder characterized by difficulty swallowing

Blepharospasm – involuntary blinking

Cervical Dystonia – a neurological disorder that causes the muscles around the neck and shoulder to contract uncontrollably

Hyperhidrosis – abnormal underarm sweating

Strabismus – crossed eyes

Studies of the use of Botox in treating other ailments such as migraines and prostate problems are ongoing.

How Does Botox Work?

The everyday facial expressions we all make, from happy to sad and everywhere in between, cause our skin to lose resilience. Cosmetic Botox injections work by blocking signals that are constantly firing from your nerves to your muscles. This causes a controlled weakening of the specific muscle targeted, and when the muscle doesn’t contract, wrinkles don’t show up as much. Noticeable improvements are usually seen within the first month after treatment.

How Is the Treatment Administered?

Botox is delivered to the muscle via a fine needle and causes little discomfort. The procedure only takes about ten minutes and requires no anesthesia. If you’re uncomfortable with needles, an icepack or anesthetic cream will do the trick.

Do I Need to Do Anything to Prepare for Botox?

Botox treatment methods vary from clinic to clinic. Some doctors recommend avoiding alcohol for one week prior to treatment and avoiding aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications for two weeks prior. This helps reduce the risk of bruising after injections.

Can Botox Be Used on Other Wrinkles?

No. Botox is only approved by the FDA for use between the eyebrows.

Will Botox affect my ability to make expressions?

You will still be able to make all the facial expressions you always could after Botox injections, just without the wrinkles between your brows showing. Only the muscle that has been injected with Botox is paralyzed. Problems making facial expressions arise when the wrong muscles are paralyzed, and this typically occurs when Botox is administered by someone who’s unqualified. The FDA strongly advises against attending Botox parties for this reason.

When Will I See the Effects of Botox?

Noticeable reduction of wrinkles will be seen within 2-3 days, and the full effects of Botox takes up to week to show.

How Long Does Botox Last?

The effects of a Botox injection last for approximately 4 – 6 months, and the wrinkles will return as the muscle starts to function normally again. Over time, the wrinkles will look smoother even without Botox, as the muscles are being conditioned to relax.

What Are the Side Effects of Botox?

The most common side effect of Botox is mild short-term bruising, which is caused by the mode of treatment rather than by the drug. When Botox is administered by a qualified medical professional side effects are quite rare but may include:

Allergic Reaction

Botulism – this illness is characterized by widespread paralysis and is rare when Botox is used correctly

Flu-like symptoms

Headache

Paralysis of incorrect muscles

Sagging eyelids

Stomachache

How Much Does Botox Cost?

Depending on various factors such as the experience of the doctor performing the treatment and location of the clinic, Botox typically costs from $200 to $800 per treatment.

Will My Health Insurance Pay for Botox?

Most insurers will not cover Botox for cosmetic use.

Am I A Good Candidate For Botox?

Because the procedure, which requires a short series of injections over the span of a few minutes, is a fairly simple one, most people find they are good candidates for Botox. Botox is FDA approved for use on people between the ages of 18 and 65.

Do not use Botox if you are breastfeeding.

Do not use Botox if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.

If you have a neurological or muscular disorder, tell your doctor during your consultation session.

If you have any allergies, tell your doctor during your consultation session.

If you have any concerns about taking Botox treatments, be sure to bring them up to your doctor. Being informed about the process is the best way to feel comfortable about your decision. In addition, you may want to ask your doctor for references and look at some of his or her before-and-after pictures to get an idea of what to expect.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the counsel and expertise of a medical professional. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your doctor.

By: Alex Levin

About the Author:

RESTYLANE ALTERNATIVES

It was during the medication of the eye defects, that the doctors noticed the reduction of wrinkles around the eye and thus it was tested and approved to be used on the forehead for removal of fine lines and wrinkles. However, botolinum is highly deadly and toxic

but if used in smaller amounts can be used safely to treat variety of

conditions. It should also be noted that botox is used only for the wrinkles between the areas of the eyebrows.

Cosmetically botox reduces the wrinkles and its effects last temporarily but it has many side effects too because of which botox is also avoided at many places. Botox works on the nerves to reduce the wrinkles and the fine lines formed. Wrinkles and these lines are formed by the constant facial expressions that are formed, from being happy to sad and every other expression in between. This constant exercise of the muscles of making expressions makes the skin lose its resilience. Botox is injected to block the signals that constantly work on the muscles to give the expressions.This blocking weakens the targeted muscle and thus less wrinkles show up and the skin seems to be more youthful. This effect can be seen within few weeks to a month of intaking the injection.

Botox is inserted into the muscle via a needle and thus no anesthesia is required. The botulinum is a toxin which itself means toxic materials of plants, animals, microorganisms etc and may include the poisonous substance or biological product. Thus like all applications botox too has some side effects which may be said to be transient mild to moderate. Patients may complain of droopy eyelids, allergic reactions, paralysis of incorrect muscles, feel like having flu, headache or upset stomach. If botox is not taken in the right way and in the right amount chances of botulism may increase. So it is advisable that botox is taken after a consultation and under the supervision of a good practitioner.

There are different opinions on the intake of the botox injections as some practitioner’s advice taking any kind of alcohols a week prior to the intake of the injection, and some medical drugs two week prior to the intake of the injection. This helps in reduction of the chances of bruises that may occur post treatment.

Botox is only FDA proven and can be used by people between the age group of 18 to 65. But not all people under that age group are eligible for botox treatment. People with muscular or neurological disorders and allergies are advised to consult the doctor before taking the treatment. Women who are breastfeeding or are pregnant should completely avoid taking botox treatment.



By: Arvind Sharma

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LIFTSP BENEFITS

Eye makeup is one of the last few steps involved in the makeup application routine. It is a step that completes the makeup preparation, for often a little foundation and eye makeup is all you would need to pull of a glamorous and exciting look. It is the eye makeup routine of the entire makeup application process that really brings out the beauty of the makeup, also could make the difference between a natural look, an exotic look, or a demure but sexy look. Eye makeup comprises of all the makeup and makeup accessories that you would use to decorate or highlight your eyes.

Eye Makeup Tips

Before you learn how to apply makeup, you need to know what kind of makeup you’re applying. There’s makeup for the face, eyes, eyebrows and lips. You certainly don’t have to use makeup on all of your facial features, but you can. If you decide to use facial makeup, or concealer, make sure to get a concealer shade that matches your face. If you’re concealer is too dark or too pale, it will stand out. If you have nice skin, you can bypass concealer or, you can apply it to areas that contain blemishes.

Formal eye makeup tips will allow you to look glamorous no matter if you are heading out for the biggest night of your life or if you are just hanging out with friends. To look glamorous, you need to know just how to apply makeup correctly, to achieve the desired, finished look. Learning how to put on eye makeup does not have to be a difficult process either. Here are several key steps to make your wedding or prom pictures truly amazing.

Use your fingers for working the foundation on one area of your face. It is better if you are moving your fingers in circular motion, and after you have finished this finger-walk, you can use sponge for the final working of the foundation.

Techniques of Eye Makeup

It doesn’t matter the size or shape your eyes, with the proper makeup techniques you can change the shape of your eyes. You can make your eyes appear bigger, wider and even more dramatic with these simple easy tips.Do you have small eyes? Use pale color up to the crease, contour crease with a dark, smoky color, smudging often.

Apply your foundation first over your entire face before you start on your eye makeup. You need a good canvas to work with.

Choose an eyelid sparkler in soft, metallic cream and dab a smidgen of it on your lids. Then sweep a pressed powder eye shadow in metallic copper also on your lids to add a dark, sexy glaze. Use a clear mascara to lengthen your lashes. You want to keep the attention to your eyes, so a touch of champagne gold lipstick will be enough to complete the look.

Apply an eye shadow primer from lash to brow to make your eye makeup last. You can skip this step if you prefer. Using a makeup brush or eye shadow sponge, apply the medium shade from lashes to the crease of your eyelid.

 



By: Johnsmith

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ALERTNATIVE TO MAKEUP