May  2007

DID YOU KNOW?

he promise of a more youthful appearance is what attracts many men and women to Botox. After all, if you feel young and have an active lifestyle, shouldn't you look young too?

Botox Cosmetic is a protein complex that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which is most commonly associated with food poisoning. However, when this protein is used in a medical setting as an injectible form of sterile, purified botulinum toxin, small doses block the release of a chemical called acetylcholine by nerve cells that signal muscle contraction. By selectively interfering with the muscles' ability to contract, existing wrinkles caused by years of facial movement are smoothed out, and in most cases, are nearly invisible within a week.

Currently Botox is mainly associated with being a fountain of youth, or a way of giving the user the appearance of a more youthful face. But Botox can be much more than a wrinkle cure.

Botox was first approved in 1989 to treat two eye muscle disorders: uncontrollable blinking and misaligned eyes. By 2000, Botox was approved to treat a neurological disorder that causes severe neck and shoulder contractions. In April 2002, the FDA approved Botox for use in reducing frown lines and crows feet around the eyes.

Many recent studies show Botox can be a welcome relief for migraine sufferers. According to the New York Headache Center, 28 million Americans suffer from migraines. Many migraines occur as a result of overworked or tense muscles in the forehead. By injecting Botox into these areas, many people are finding welcome relief as the injection helps the forehead muscles relax.

Botox can also be used to treat a serious excessive sweating disorder of the underarms, hands and feet. The muscles that surround the sweat glands work overtime in patients with hyperhydrosis. Botox injections help relax these muscles, and help to prevent excessive sweating.

To find out more about Botox and its benefits, please give Tammy a call and discuss your options.  

Doctor's Corner
What's new with our doctors? Find out here.

Dr Randolph Robinson is on his 14th trip to Vietnam May 2nd through May 13th with his non-profit organization, Face The Challenge.  Dr Robinson is leading a medical team to perform Craniomaxillo-facial trauma and orthognathic (jaw) surgeries in two of Vietnam's hospitals, the Odonto-Maxillo-Facial Hospital and the National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology.

Face The Challenge offers children in developing countries the opportunity to surgically correct facial deformities they may have had since birth, and live life free of the pain and humiliation they may have faced up to this point. To learn more about Dr Robinson's work with Face The Challenge, visit their website at http://www.facethechallenge.org/

• Breast Surgery
• Botox 
• Liposuction
• Jaw Surgery
• Cosmetic Surgery