Crow’s feet, frown lines, eye bags, laugh lines and forehead wrinkles are everything I dread about the aging process. However, like it or lump it, it is a fact of life and many will agree that there is very little you can do about it, even if you do lead a healthy lifestyle. When one reaches to a certain age, they begin to realise that the aging process is creeping up on them and this may send out panic alarm bells. Some would even go as far as spending out on expensive anti-aging products; there is still much to dispute about on whether these are affective or not.

The rich and the famous are able to afford wonder treatments that involve plenty of invasive poking and prodding in the face, and lots of chemical peeling. Getting a facial line treatment is like getting your legs waxed regularly for the Hollywood elite. This has only become available to the wider audience in the recent years; therefore, this has been a known secret for the rich and wealthy, rather than being something available for the average person.

It is understood that a facial line treatment will mean creating a big dent in your bank account, and then some extra for maintenance procedures. However, unlike anti-aging and line reducing products that you find in the shops these have proven to be highly effective in making the skin look refreshed and revived (albeit a painful process). One of the most famous of all line reduction treatment is Botox (Botulinum toxin). This is administered mainly in the forehead area, via small injections and put simply deadens the muscles in that area.

It blocks the nerve impulses, which are transmitted around onto those specific muscles, and so it prevents lines from forming. People who have had this done tend to feel like they are not able frown for a long while, as the process is aimed at preventing any form of movement around that area. The dangers of Botox, or on any facial line treatment, are not knowing which consultant to approach and not having the right information given to you.

People who want to go through Botox treatment will need to have consulted with a specialist and prepare before having the procedure done. One thing everyone should avoid is having the procedure done by a nurse, this should always be done by the practitioner/consultant to whom you have been in contact with, because he/she will know your medical history and will know how much to administer on to the affected area.

Another type of facial line treatment includes dermal fillers, which is hyaluronic acid (produced naturally in the body) in a clear gel form. This is applied by injection to areas where there are deep wrinkles and folds; it holds in fluid to the skin and immediately plumps the skin up to reveal a hydrated younger looking skin. These can also be used to treat acne scars, plumping up the lips and filling out other skin deficiencies around the face.

These treatments maybe expensive but they are extremely efficient at removing fine lines around the face, revealing a lasting youthful complexion. People who have had these treatments usually require plenty of recovery time before seeing the full effects. Many celebrities have treated themselves to this kind of procedure in a bid for eternal youth; one does not need to guess who these people are!

As reported by the FDA, the botulinum toxin, a primary ingredient in in Botox injections, has killed at least 16 people when the toxin spread to other parts of their bodies.

 

The deaths are cited in a petition by the group Public Citizen to have a “black box” warning about this risk placed on the packaging of Botox and related medications. The highest warning level that the FDA can give a product without removing it from shelves is called a black box.

 

Botox made by Allergan and Myobloc from Solstice Neuroscience are a few of the injections that you can receive based on the botulinum toxin, which stops nerve impulses from getting to muscles, in turn making them relax. These two drugs are medically approved for the treatment of cervical dystonia, which often results in tough or spastic neck muscles. Botox is known by more people as a way to smooth out face wrinkles.

 

According to Public Citizen’s review of 180 reports of adverse effects reported to the FDA, at least 87 people have been hospitalized and 16 killed due to a spread of the toxin beyond the injection site. Side effects of the toxin include muscle weakness, trouble swallowing, or even aspiration pneumonia. Four of the people who died from the injections were children.

 

While the prescribing instructions for both medications mention the risk that botulinum toxin can spread and paralyze other parts of the body, the warnings are easy to miss, said Sidney Wolfe, director of the Public Citizen Health Research Group. Public Citizen has said that the Food and Drug Administration should outline the risks with a block box warning while requiring doctors to also hand out a guide to patients before administering these injections. 

 

“These significantly improved warnings to doctors and patients would increase the likelihood of earlier medical intervention when symptoms of adverse reactions to botulinum toxin first appear, and could prevent more serious complications, including death,” the FDA says.