Facial Exercise or Botox?

Once the Hippocratic Oath was considered a rite of passage for practitioners of medicine; it was a promise traditionally taken by physicians pertaining to the ethical practice of medicine.  Over the years the wording has changed to reflect a more modern language; however, an oath of some type is uttered by most physicians accepting the responsibility to practice medicine or is it to practice responsible medicine?

Botox, Restylane and Collagen are the darlings of many cosmetic surgeons' because these products create a huge cash flow upsurge that boosts their bottom line. These same products provide a very temporary result that requires multiple treatments every year; most patients, mainly women, are willing to continue the injections giving no thought to how their faces will look or behave if they stop using these crutches.

A FDA article says, "In 2001, more than 1.6 million people received injections, an increase of 46 percent over the previous year. More popular than breast enhancement surgery and a potential blockbuster, Botox is regarded by some as the ultimate fountain of youth."   On the other hand, the FDA describes Botox Cosmetic as a toxin. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2002/ANS01147.html  Updating the figure for injections, Botox led the way in 2005.

Should there be concern for over-treatment or abuse when it comes to using these products?  The above referenced FDA article echoes concern that Botox use could be easily abused, especially when untrained and unqualified people are doing the injecting at $500 a treatment.  Abuse also comes when the patient complains to the care giver that the treatment was not as effective as promised so the injection is repeated before the recommended waiting period has lapsed.

If the results of a typical injection last 120 days, that means a patient returns at least three times per year to repeat the procedure to maintain that paralyzed look.  At what point does a patient reach saturation with these drugs? One-tenth of a teaspoon, the typical amount of product used for the forehead, doesn't sound like much in terms of product usage but the burning question remains:  what is the long-term ramification of injecting a toxin into the body several times a year?

Most cosmetic Botox injections target the forehead lines, the concentration lines between the brows and the area around the eyes.  These particular lines and creases indicate that the underlying muscles have lost elasticity and tone from atrophy coupled with continued repetitive motion.  Yes, the motion needs to be stopped but surprisingly, stopping the learned behavior of frowning or raising the forehead when emoting requires behavior modification not paralyzing toxins.

There is a non-invasive, all natural remedy for muscles that are lax – it's not an injection and it's not a cream.  It's exercise!  Exercise using isometric and resistance movements can easily tighten the underlying muscles of the face and neck.  Imagine, learning a series of exercise motions that you can use forever and the results can stave off the need for injections because the underlying muscles will plump up and become strong again.  When the muscles are made stronger, the skin feels and acts like younger skin. 

Botox is not the Fountain of Youth – it is a toxin that blocks the release of a chemical by nerve cells that signal muscle contraction.  When normal muscle contraction is inhibited, new wrinkles can begin their formation. That's right - New wrinkles are developed when compensating for other muscles lack of movement.

Exercise for the face can keep the underlying muscles strong so that wrinkles are less likely to form.  Why resort to man-made chemicals when exercise can help you look younger and healthier?  Remember, beauty injections do not cure; they only temporarily mask the symptoms.