Houston home journal. (Perry, GA) 2007-current, December 01, 2007, Page 16, Image 36

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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