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Since 2002, when BOTOX was approved by the FDA, for the cosmetic treatment of lines and wrinkles, this revolutionary drug has been heralded as the first sip at the Fountain of Youth.

But, according to BOTOX manufacturer, Allergan, the drug’s medical and therapeutic uses may, eventually, far outweigh its cosmetic popularity. Currently, the company owns or has “pending” more than 90 patents for BOTOX. It has been tested and successfully used for sweating disorders, swallowing problems and muscle spasms.

Perhaps, chief among its current uses and benefits, the treatment for severe Migraine Headaches, reigns supreme. In 2010, BOTOX was again FDA-approved. But this time it was to reduce the often-debilitating effects of Migraine Headaches.

If you have been fortunate enough to never experience a Migraine, its pain is almost indescribable. Different from the regular stress, flu, alcohol, fatigue or other headaches, the Migraine Headache takes no prisoners.

The pain is severe and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Commonly, the pain is greatly heightened by sound or light.

BOTOX, carefully injected into the head and neck, has brought life-altering relief to thousands of patients who have been eligible to receive the treatment. BOTOX is only approved for the most severe sufferers who do not respond to other drugs and that experience Migraines, at least, 15 – 20 days a month. For those patients, BOTOX is, indeed, a “wonder drug”.

While universal triggers, dietary or lifestyle, are really not exact, there are some common causes that have been noted: red wine, chocolate, aged cheese, preservatives like MSG, hot, humid weather, sleep disorders and, of course, high stress.

It’s estimated that 15% of the population experience Migraine Headaches; it often runs in families and women are more susceptible than men. Fortunately, the occurrence of Migraines seems to decrease with age.

Then, of course, you can seek BOTOX treatments to diminish the appearance of wrinkles and eliminate your headaches and signs of premature aging, at once!

Depending upon the patient’s own healing process, as well as the practitioner’s technique, there may be varying degrees of swelling, redness, bruising, tenderness, bumps and other minor, but noticeable, side effects.

But there is another factor that also plays a role in reducing the temporary side effects of BOTOX, Restylane, Juvederm and other non-invasive cosmetic dermatology procedures –your pre and post-treatment precautions! Yes, there are things you can do to help prevent and treat many of the injection side-effects or, at least, minimize their appearance.

Pre-treatment

First and foremost, always select the most experienced and skilled practitioner you can find. Do the research and revel in your results.

Secondly, be sure to allow 2 – 7 days for the disappearance of any visible traces of the treatment. Let common sense prevail – don’t schedule an important business or social event in the same week as your procedure. And, if you know that you bruise more easily, allow up to two weeks for full recovery. Usually, make-up will cover all minor redness or bruising, but be prepared for the unexpected.

One of the easiest precautions is to discontinue, if possible, the following medications/supplements one week prior to treatment. They are known “blood thinners” and might cause bruising: Aspirin (Excedrin, Motrin, Aleve, Advil), St. John’s Wort, Omega 3, Vitamin E, Ginko Biloba, Ginseng. Tylenol is always fine to use for pain. And check with your doctor for other prescribed medications you might avoid.

Eliminate alcohol and garlic 1 – 2 days before treatment; some evidence recommends eating pineapple 1 – 2 days ahead; Arnica Montana tablets may also be helpful (except if you have high blood pressure or heart problems), 1- day ahead or the morning of the procedure.

Post-treatment

Immediately following your procedure, you might ask for an ice pack to apply directly on the areas of injection. And if you have swelling, continue to apply a cold compress for 5 – 10 minutes every hour, for the first several hours, after treatment.

Things to avoid for 1 – 2 days after treatment: alcohol, exercise (except for walking), sun or heat exposure and aspirin (as above but Tylenol is still good to go). Also resist pressing on the treatment area – unless you were instructed to do so by your doctor.

With the incredible number of skin care products on the market, sometimes it feels like “your guess is as good as mine” when it comes to buying what you need. It might have been a lot easier “back in the day” when “cold cream” was the only game in town. But, of course, we don’t remember that day!

Just as a point of reference, in 2010, the world skin care industry generated over $78 billion. And, at least, 64% of that total was from facial products alone! By 2015, the market is expected to top $95 billion. That’s a lot of products. And a lot of people buying them.

So what’s going on in the skin care industry? LOTS. The innovation, the art and the science that has made today’s “60 the new 40” has revolutionized the industry. And dazzled the consumer with the possibilities. And the choices. So let’s simplify. Whether you’ve followed a tried and true beauty regimen for years or are just looking to start one, it’s always a good idea to review the bare-bone basics.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island, the two cosmetics you’d most likely pack, for the adventure, are your blush and mascara. But what do you really need to stay looking fabulous? Beautiful skin. So leave some room for the cleanser and moisturizer or you may have to toss the “lush and blush” out!

Beautiful skin starts with clean. Clean skin is healthy skin. And healthy skin is clear, fresh and youthful-looking. At any age. So every skin care program should include a mild, but effective, multi-purpose cleanser. VIVITÉ®　Daily Facial Cleanser is perfect for every day use. It removes surface oils, dirt, makeup and other impurities that clog your pores but it doesn’t rob your skin of its natural moisture. AND, unlike ordinary cleansers, it has 12% glycolic compound which is one of the most effective anti-aging ingredients in rejuvenating your skin and maintaining it’s smooth, supple radiance. You’ll love how your skin feels.

VIVITÉ® Daily Facial Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 30 is certainly the next must in your “love your skin” beauty agenda. Dry, itchy, flaky skin is the root of all evil! At least, when it comes to your skin. Only the sun can do more damage. And this moisturizer gives you the UVA/UVB protection you need, as well. Premature lines and wrinkles and a dull, lifeless pallor – no matter how clean – is not your best look. Quench it, drench it with emollients, nourish your skin with moisture and you’ll look vibrant anywhere!

There’s no denying that playing in the sun is wreaking havoc on our skin. Sun or age spots, over any area of skin that is over-exposure to the sun, are especially major concerns in So. California and Florida. However, they also affect sun-worshippers everywhere.

And there are other pigmentation problems that detract from the look of clear, fresh and youthful skin: redness, Rosacea, light acne scars, broken capillaries, spider veins, hyperpigmentation and other skin conditions cause distress and, actually, embarrassment for millions of people of all ages and genders.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Photofacial laser treatments to the rescue. Simply stated, a strong wavelength of light is targeted on the affected skin and absorbs the undesirable melatonin (the color-creating substance) from the area. Fast, easy, effective. And while discomfort levels vary from person to person, IPL Photofacial procedures are usually performed with a topical anesthethic and are considered virtually painless. A slight sting with each pulse is the usual description.

Depending upon the size of the area being treated – face, neck, chest, hands – and the severity of the condition, three to five IPL treatments are usually required, spaced about 4 weeks apart. The treatment time is about 30 minutes with no down time following each session. Side effects are also minimal and the possible skin reddening will disappear within a few hours and may be covered with makeup.

Sound good? It is. Effective? Most definitely. When can I start? How about today!

Back in the day, a long, long time ago, before we or our parents can remember, say in 1950, there was a gorgeous young Italian actress named Gina Lollabrigida. Simply stunning. In fact, it’s been said that Marilyn Monroe was once called “the American Gina Lollabrigida.”

The fact is, if you view her photos, on the Internet, she was really a cross between Elizabeth Taylor and a modern day diva named Eva Longoria. Another fact is that 25 years later, Ms. Lollabrigida was still dropping jaws. Was there something in the Italian air or water? Well, as the story goes, Gina’s rather infamous explanation was, “When I’m not on camera, I try not to smile or move my lips or facial muscles any more than I have to. It makes wrinkles.

Fact – Ms. Lollabrigida was right. In fact, that’s one of the major factors behind our pre-mature aging. Smiling, frowning, pouting – all the strong muscle contractions that we use to express our emotions, over and over, leave their lasting impression on our faces. Frown lines, crow’s feet, knitted brows and other lines and wrinkles are the signs of the times, the times of our lives. Thank goodness we have them. And we can get rid of them!

While BOTOX is best known for removing or reducing those lines, its secondary effect is helping to relax and re-train the muscles that created them. When the BOTOX wears off, hopefully, the frowns do, too.

While we’re not suggesting that you stop smiling or talking, we are reminding you that,today, there’s a new sign of the times…BOTOX Cosmetics.

Botox is the Fountain of Youth! Botox makes you look 20 years younger! Botox will solve all your problems! Who knew!

Well, the answer is, no one knew…because none of it is true.

Every new and exciting medical advance has its share of misconceptions. The hype grows just as the popularity, new discoveries and new uses grow and gain greater success with the public. And Botox IS an anti-aging cosmetic phenomenom.

Botox injections are painful. Botox is too expensive. Really?

Not real at all. Just as the benefits of Botox wrinkle-removing injections are frequently exaggerated, so are the fabrications. So let’s examine the facts.

Botox is the brand name for a drug that is derived from Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that is usually associated with food poisoning. In large doses it causes paralysis. But for its cosmetic purposes, Botox is so diluted and administered in such small doses that it is completely harmless.

As for interfering with natural facial expressions, let’s add a few expressive exclamation points to our response – it doesn’t!! The Botox treatment consists of a series of tiny injections placed directly into the muscle that is contracting (frowning, furrowing, glowering) and creating the wrinkle. It does not affect other muscles or nerves.

Botox blocks the nerve signal to that muscle and relaxes it to soften it. With each subsequent treatment, the wrinkle returns but is much less severe since the muscle is being trained to relax.

Painful? Hardly at all. Of course, it always depends upon the area being treated. But Botox is most often used on frown lines, between the eyebrows or across the forehead where the sensitivity is considerably less than the lips or neck area. At any rate, the discomfort is minimal.

And too expensive? Actually, Botox is probably the least expensive of all the anti-aging procedures available. With the cost as low as $9.00 per unit and, perhaps, 30 units for the average frown line treatment, why wait?

When we talk about the “fabulous fillers,” everyone knows we’re referring to the most popular non-surgical “face lift” alternatives in the beauty industry today. Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane and Radiesse.

For hollows and folds, deep wrinkles and strategically placed “lift and firm” areas of the face, these derma fillers have revolutionized the industry.

But, over time, ultra-skilled physicians and experienced practitioners have discovered new and exciting ways to expand the use and take full advantage of the benefits these drugs have to offer. Just as BOTOX, the granddaddy of all wrinkle and line erasers, is now used for so many other disorders – like migraine headaches, muscles spasms, etc. – facial fillers are serving double-duty, as well.

The non-surgical nose job, chin or cheek augmentation and jowl camouflage are a few of the procedures gaining the most popularity in dermatology offices from New York to L.A.

In a matter of about 15 minutes, with the artistic touch of a top-notch practitioner, the right amount of volume can be injected to correct a surgical rhinoplasty (nose job) or to simply re-shape a nose or to diminish the appearance of a bump, etc.

The average cost of a nose job, in the U.S., is in the range of $5,000 – $6,000, depending upon where you live. Could go considerably higher; probably not much lower. Pain and down-time is also considerable.

As for the results, the good news and the bad news is the same. If you love it, it’s yours forever. If you hate it, it’s yours forever.

For the non-surgical nose job, the good news is that the cost is in the range of $800 – $1,000. Depending upon the filler of choice, the results could last up to 12 – 14 months and adjustments can be done immediately.