Newspaper Page Text
m i- i ||
Vaseline Intensive
Rescue range is ,
specifically designed 5
with all your
different dry
needs in mind. K k
: 4b Ifev* W'
A. j,
Concentrated Balm
mbistariz£s to relieve trnublod diy
skin on elbows, knees, and heels p
f 7f , ijP
f #0 W f M
o M
Rich All Over Body Buttel^
Deep over malS»
skin loo^^ft^ljfcilthy
\ 0
m o m
** kflj
Healing Hand Cream
n .ilhjL^g
1 XS|- IHP T-
K □ IFf
■
Healing Foot Cream
Softens thick, callousei feet after
J U |on e *»..4«.
L bPa
Consider the wrinkles in Botox
When used appropriately, it can give a lift to self-image, but there are risks.
FOR FATHER’S DAY this year, my wife had all of
our family videos transferred to DVD (a great
gift idea, by the way). We spent that evening
strolling down memory lane with our kids. The jour
ney revealed not only my children’s rapid growth, but
also a few signs of aging in ol’ Dad, including a few
wrinkles around the eyes. Subtle, for sure, but visible
nonetheless. Don’t get me wrong I feel great, exer
cise regularly and don’t consider myself old by any
means. It’s just that in spite of efforts to keep our skin
young, time takes its toll.
So what do we do? Our parents didn’t worry much
about it they just “aged gracefully.” But don’t ex-
Not only
is Botox li b jJkjA
expensive, ms M
but it's also IT \ 1
a medical S : t J^C2ki
treatment H
with potential Bk ik
complications. m
a. Wm B9BL
pect that from us. We’re the baby boomers and Gen
eration X. We’re going to fight this aging process tooth
and nail. We want to look young and feel young, and
that includes our skin. In an effort to do so, we’ve de
veloped what amounts to a dermatologic arsenal over
the past generation. One of the most popular weapons
has become Botox.
I’ll admit that the first time I heard about Botox
treatment for wrinkles, I was a little incredulous. As
a physician, the thought of injecting the bacterial toxin
responsible for a potentially fatal type of food poison
ing into facial muscles in order to paralyze them and
look younger seemed well, let’s just say, a tad nar
cissistic. Years later, my opinion has changed. No, I’ve
16
USA WEEKEND • Nov. 30-Dec. 2,2007
Health 11 iMifl
By DR.TEDD MITCHELL
never had Botox. But I’ve seen the lift it gives self-image
when used appropriately in properly selected patients.
The Food and Drug Administration first gave the
go-ahead for Botox to be used in treating wrinkles in
2002. Since then, it has become the fastest-growing
cosmetic procedure in the country. Here’s how it works:
Toxin from the bacteria Clostridium botulimim is in
jected directly into muscles underlying the skin in dif
ferent facial areas, paralyzing them. Once it takes ef
fect, the muscles become incapable of contracting, mak
ing the overlying skin appear smoother. This paraly
sis, however, is not permanent. Over time, the mus
cles regain their tone, which means the wrinkles reap-
no-no). Problems range from mild (eyelid droop) to
major (botulism, which can cause paralysis of arms,
legs and even diaphragm).
Cosmetic therapies for treating wrinkles can help
improve a person’s outlook on life. In my practice, this
can make the right person more receptive to recom
mendations on exercise and good nutrition, which I
believe has to do with the old adage that if you look
good, you feel good. Making sure you understand the
pros and cons of Botox is, therefore, imperative for
those of you who want your stroll down memory lane
to be more wrinkle-free, a
Tedd Mitchell, president and medical dinctor of Dallas’
Cooper Clinic, writes HealthSmari every iveek.
pear. The cosmetic effect can
last for several months, after
which time treatment needs
to be repeated. The FDA rec
ommends that Botox be given
no more frequently than every
three months.
Who’s an ideal candidate
for Botox? It’s approved
for use in people ages 18 to 65.
But those interested in get
ting Botox need to do then
homework. Not only is it ex
pensive (a single injection is
several hundred dollars), but
it is also a medical treatment
with potential complications
(which means those popular
“Botox parties” are a definite