Our skin is consistently exposed to elements including ultraviolet rays of sun, dust, environmental pollutants, and chemicals in various cosmetics and toiletries. Moreover, our skin also continues to age alongside our body, sometimes in a more accelerated manner than the rest of body because of the free radical and oxidative damage of highly processed foods we ingest. The forces of gravity, hormonal imbalances, drug ingestion, smoking, pregnancy and various illnesses also play their role. The end result is premature aging of skin which manifests itself in lines, wrinkles, blotchy skin color and various types of spots. Various methods have been devised and used for combating these effects and to rejuvenate the skin once again. As expected, face, head and neck are the most common areas for which rejuvenation treatments are sought. The most commonly used and reliable methods for treating the sun damaged and aging skin are chemical peeling, dermabrasion and laser skin resurfacing. Chemical peels, dermabrasion and laser skin resurfacing all achieve results in basically the same way. Layers of your skin are removed and, as the healing process progresses, a new, healthier-looking skin emerges. Am I a good candidate for laser skin resurfacing? You will be a good candidate for laser skin resurfacing if you have any one or more of the following conditions: Wrinkles including ‘laughter lines’, ‘frown lines’, skin changes around mouth that cause ‘lipstick bleed’ Sun-damaged facial skin Lines around eyes- ‘crow’s feet’ Brown spots or blotchy skin coloring Skin growths that have potential to become cancerous Scars of acne or chicken pox Superficial facial scars from a past injury You will not be...
Being a neurotoxic protein, concerns regarding the side effects of Botox will not be far behind. Controversies spurred regarding the 180 reported adverse effects and 16 deaths from patients treated with Botulinum toxin for various diseases and conditions. The issue of Botox spreading into sites away from the intended treatment areas and causing lethal reactions to the muscles responsible for respiration and swallowing was also raised. However, the number of people undergoing Botox treatment continues to grow. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 9.8 million people in the United States underwent the procedure in 2024. Botox as a Cosmetic Surgery Procedure The introduction of Botox as a treatment for wrinkles has provided a fast and convenient alternative to surgical facelifts. It comes at a much lower cost than plastic surgery. For aesthetic purposes, the concentration of the toxin is diluted and delivered in tiny amounts to the wrinkles on the face; hence most of the adverse effects are minor and self-limiting. The experience and knowledge of the doctor performing the botox injections are important in avoiding unnecessary risks to the patient. Possible Botox Side Effects A person may complain of a wide range of idiosyncratic side effects of botox while another may experience very minimal unpleasant effects. There may be mild stinging, swelling, redness and pain to the injected sites. Depending on the technique, bruising may last for 3 to 10 days. Flu-like manifestations are also noted in 2% of cases. Even if Botox is an emerging treatment for migraines, transient symptoms of headache and nausea can be observed a few hours after the procedure. This feeling could last...
Collagen in Cosmetic Surgery Collagen is a fibrous protein that serves as a connective tissue and structural support to other tissues in the body, such as the skin, bone, cartilage, tendon, and muscles. It is rich in amino acids, including lysine, praline, hydroxylysine, and hydroxyproline. There are 27 different types of collagen in the body. Its role as a principal supportive protein in the skin’s dermis has lead to its use in cosmetic procedures. It is also incorporated in skin products such as Collagen Care and supplements like Collagen Pro. As one ages, the amount of collagen diminishes due to its break down predominating over its production. External factors, such as free radicals, smoking, UV rays, inflammation, and other environmental assaults to the body hasten its degradation. Decreased collagen makes fine lines and wrinkles more evident. Collagen‘s injection into the skin makes it possible to replace the damaged dermal layer where collagen resides. The introduced agent serves as a matrix that stimulates the fibroblasts to grow. Fibroblasts are cells which synthesize collagen. In contrast to other wrinkle-reducing treatments, such as laser resurfacing and chemical peels, which lower the skin surface, collagen injection raises the lines to make them look even with the surrounding skin. The results are faster and more visible than the topical or pill forms of collagen. The products utilized as fillers should be stable and relatively resistant to the action of enzymes in the body that degrade it. Types of Collagen Fillers Bovine Collagen In 1982, the FDA approved it as an injectable filling agent. It is derived from the skin of cows which is highly...
