Would You Like Some Botox With That?

"Would you like Botox with that? How about we make it a super size?"
Sadly, this mentality is permeating the facial rejuvenation community. Botox spas are opening up in local shopping malls and other commercial places. The atmosphere is similar to a nail or hair salon, appointments can be made, but you can also be seen on a walk in basis. This is giving consumers the impression that Botox isn't a medical procedure, and can be done on a whim.
This simply isn't true. Botox is a purified protein form of the Botulism toxin. It has been approved by the FDA, and can only be prescribed by physicians. It works by relaxing the muscles it is injected into, typically in the forehead or around the eyes. Medical training in head and neck anatomy is crucial to correctly administering Botox. Knowing just where to inject is not only a science, but also an art form. Injecting the wrong area could have unwanted results. Does that sound like something that should be ordered off of a drive through menu?
Though many of these clinics and storefronts are "overseen" by licensed physicians, they are not always on site, and often are not the individuals giving injections. When Botox is ordered off the drive through menu, it's hard to know who is actually administering your treatment, and what their actual training and qualifications are.
Another attractive feature of these mall clinics is the low cost. Beware of Botox sold below $10/unit, or at a fixed price for an area. Allergan, the US producer and distributor of Botox Cosmetic, sells their product to only licensed physicians at roughly the same rate. Any purchase below $10/unit is most likely not Botox Cosmetic, expired or, it is not being administered in the proper amounts.
Additionally, when Botox is performed in a medical office with a trained support staff, you can be sure that the environment is appropriately sterile and maintained.
"Your face is your outward representation of who you are. Don't trust it to just anyone." says Dr. Mike Hopkins. "Spend the time, do the homework so you acheive the best results for a beautiful you. If you eat McDonald's three times a day, its going to show up on your body. If you do drive through Botox, the results will be about the same."

Quick and Easy Skin Care Tips That Anyone Can Do!

Did you know that skin is the largest body organ? Here are some quick and easy skin care tips to get you started:



1. Use sunscreen daily! Sun damage is the number one cause of premature aging and skin cancer. Whether or not you intend to be outside, its a good idea to have that protection all the time. Some moisturizers also incorporate it, we recommend TNS Ultimate Daily Moisturizer +20 spf.



2. Take a multi-vitamin. Vitamins C, E, A and B7 are beneficial not only to your general health, but to your skin as well! They can help minimize free radical damage, help produce new cell growth, promote healing and help with acne.



3. Drink water! Water helps the skin rid itself of impurities. Between 8 and 10 glasses a day should do it. It will also aid your overall body function.



4. Don't touch your face!! Your hands are germy, transferring those germs onto your face promotes oil build up and break outs. Tie your hair back at night to keep product build up off of your skin, and keep make up brushes clean. Throw out any make up that is more than a few months old.



5. Wash your face every evening to remove make up and other environmental build up from the day. This will prevent acne breakouts and infections from developing. Wash carefully after applying hair products as they can cause build up and residue on your skin. Your skin heals best around 10 pm, so try and scrub up way before bed time!



6. Avoid excess sugar. (This one is dear to our dental hearts!) Excess sugar leads to the formation of toxins called AGEs, (advanced glycations end products) which lead to the breakdown of collagen, connective tissue and promote wrinkles. Since this is kind of a toughy, try reducing your sugar a little at a time, like only putting half the amount of sugar in your coffee each day until you're down to none.

7. Exfoliate! Exfoliating several times a week helps slough off dead cells and brightens skin. For men, this can also help with in grown hairs associated with shaving.

8. Use products and services designed for your skin type. If you're not sure what your skin type is, consult an aesthetician, who will not only be able to tell you your skin type, but will recommend which products you should and should not use.

9. Don't pick! Squeezing, picking, popping and all other sorts other mean things you do to your skin can cause scarring and infection! It also works bacteria deeper into the skin.

10. Change your pillow cases often. They will hold onto the oils, residue and bacteria that you leave on them every night.