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Botox and Microdermabraison are both said to combat the signs of aging, we delve into this frther to see the benefits of each and the suitable candidates.

Many people fear the inevitable sagging and wrinkling of the skin that comes with aging. Not only does the appearance suffer, but it’s a daily reminder that the body is no longer improving. Suddenly, after all the hard work of becoming the fully mature body we were meant to be, the body does a complete reversal and decides to decline instead. Add in the fact that the end of the slow decline is death and aging becomes less about appearance and more about terror.

It’s no surprise that many people choose to undergo cosmetic procedures to hide the hints of aging that remind us of our unpleasant decline. It makes good sense. Other excellent reasons to have procedures such as botox or Microdermabrasion include stress reduction, improved appearance, and a return to youth, if only in the mirror.

Botox

This decade old treatment lasts about six weeks and costs about £350 for one treatment. They’re considered to be safe and effective, though there are some nasty side effects that can accompany the treatment: Bruising, headaches, muscle weakness, and nausea, to name a few. Few people suffer from these side effects and there is an up side: Botox is often cited as a treatment for migraines.

Microdermabrasion

During this procedure, the top layer of dead skin is removed. This paves the way for new cells to be produced in the deeper layers of the skin. It’s not considered surgery and though treatments can be performed in a doctor’s office, they can also be performed in a salon or spa. The result is a rejuvenation of the skin and a happier person.

To describe the procedure a little further:

It takes about 20 to 30 minutes for the face to receive a microdermabrasion treatment. The face, chest, or neck can take as long as one hour. Four to eight treatments are performed, with one to three weeks between each treatment. People can pay at much as £200 for a treatment or as little as £50. It all depends on where you choose to go.

The good news is that you won’t have to go under anesthesia and you’re not going to suffer any pain during the treatments. Microdermabrasion is so harmless that it’s sometimes called a lunch-time peel. It won’t disrupt your routines or cause you to suffer for weeks. The most it will do is turn your skin pink for one to three days.

Botox, an incredibly popular drug sold by Allergan Inc., is used primarily in cosmetic procedures designed to reduce facial wrinkles and is derived from the deadly botulinum neurotoxin produced by the bacteria clostridium botulinum. A different version of botulinum neurotoxin, known as Myobloc, is used in medical procedures designed to reduce muscle stiffness and spasms in people with cerebral palsy. People who are exposed to this toxin through having infected wounds or eating contaminated food develop botulism. Botulism is a paralytic illness that can paralyze the respiratory system and result in death if not treated.

New studies have shown that Botox doesn’t just reduce wrinkles. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, Botox that is injected into a person’s face can move into the brain and damage the central nervous system. When Botox was first introduced to the cosmetic market, there were no warning labels or particularly nasty proven side effects. However, the FDA mandated that warning labels be added to Botox and Myobloc after people began reporting trouble breathing and swallowing after using the drugs. The FDA has mainly directed these warnings to people with neuromuscular problems, but also admits that other people may be at risk as well. Due to these concerns, the FDA has begun investigating Botox its potentially dangerous side effects.

In the Journal of Neuroscience article, researchers experimented on rats with Botox to observe its effects on the brain. The researchers found that when they injected botulinum toxin into one side of a rat’s brain, the toxin would make its way over to the other side of the brain. When they injected a part of the brain responsible for vision, the toxin made its way into the rat’s eyes. The effects of the toxin were long lasting – researchers still detected the effects up to six months later. The results of this study support concerns about the dangers of injecting Botox into a person’s face. Although Botox is one of the best selling cosmetic procedures today, maybe clients should reconsider getting Botox treatments before more information and research can be obtained on the dangers of this potentially damaging paralytic agent.