Upper Lip Wrinkles

Posts Tagged ‘Botox’

Which Wrinkles and lines bother you the most? Are these lines and wrinkles the type that are best eliminated using Botox?

If you choose to eliminate only the wrinkles that can be treated with Botox, will any of the remaining ones still leave you unsatisfied with your appearance? For example, if you want both your frown lines and marionette lines removed, you will likely need a different cosmetic procedure to have the marionette lines eliminated.

It should point out that Botox injections work best on crow’s-feet (wrinkles radiating from the outside corners of the eyes), worry lines (horizontal forehead lines), and frown lines (vertical lines, also called glabellar lines, that appear be­tween the eyebrows). These are wrinkles that are typically caused by chronic contractions of the muscles under or adjacent to these areas of the face. Laughing, smiling, frowning, and squinting are some of the common facial expressions that can cause these lines. If you have lines and wrinkles on other parts of your face that concern you, you may need other types of cosmetic procedures to eliminate them. With that in mind, consider these questions:

Which wrinkles and lines bother you the most? Are these lines and wrinkles the type that are best eliminated using Botox?

The followings are the types of lines and wrinkles:

From the top of your face down, bothersome facial wrinkles have the following names and locations. Notice that Botox is not the best choice for all types of wrinkles and lines.

Forehead lines: horizontal lines, often called worry lines. These lines form mainly because the underlying frontalis muscle, which stretches across the forehead, moves when you make facial expressions. When you lift your browsometimes referred to as the “aha” or surprised lookthe muscle contracts, which causes the skin that is covering the muscle to pull, wrinkle, and then return to its original position when you relax the muscle. Now consider the countless number of times you’ve used these muscles. As you age, your skin be­gins to lose its elasticity, it suffers from sun damage, and the constant contracting and relaxing of the muscle results in forehead lines. These can be eliminated using Botox or filler injections such as collagen or fat.

Frown lines: vertical lines, also known as glabellar lines, that appear between the eyebrows. These linescan make you appear serious, angry, or stressed even when you’re not. It is for the removal of these lines that the Food and Drug Administration gave approval for Botox in April 2002. These lines are best removed with Botox. If you’ve frowned a lot over the years and the lines are very deeply etched, you may also need wrinkle fillers (e.g., collagen, fat) to eliminate these lines. Your doctor will discuss your options with you.

Crow’s-feet: lines that radiate from the outside corners of the eyes. They’re also known as periorbital lines. If you have these lines, they’re most likely the result of smiling and squinting. If you look in the mirror ands mile or squint, notice how your muscles contract and cause your eyelids to nearly cover your eyes and how the muscles contract at the corners of your eyes where the lines appear. Crow’s-feet are best eliminated with Botox, plus adjunctive treatment such as collagen, chemical peels, or laser resurfacing.

Laugh lines: also known as smile lines or nasolabial lines, they are the two vertical lines that run from the outside corners of the nose down to the top of the outside of the upper lip. Even though they are called laugh lines, gravity and aging are also factors in their development. They can best be eliminated using wrinkle fillers (e.g., collagen, fat, AlloDerm, Cymetra, Gore-Tex, or SoftForm).

Lipstick or smoker’s lines: the tiny radiating lines that appear above the upper lip and below the lower one. It seems as though everyone has a different name for these annoying wrinkles, which are best removed using laser resurfacing, chemical peel, microdermabrasion, or wrinkle fillers tissue augmentation (e.g., collagen in­jections, AlloDerm, fat)in addition to Botox.

Marionette lines: the often deep lines that run down from the outside corners of the mouth toward the chin. These lines develop from a combination of factors, including gravity (the cheeks tend to sag from the force of gravity) and thinning of the supporting tissue that comes with age. These wrinkles are best eliminated using wrinkle fillers or laser resurfacing. Another option is a face-lift, a complex surgical procedure.

If you’ll still be bothered by the remaining lines and wrinkles, are you willing to have other cosmetic procedures done to correct them? Naturally, you will need to discuss all your options and prices with your doctor, but you should be aware that other procedures may be needed for you to get the look you desire. You also should know that while Botox injections don’t involve any recovery time, some other cosmetic procedures do.

After spending many years tuning my ears, I’m now in the habit of ‘overhearing’ other people’s conversations. In a busy restaurant I homed in on a group of upwardly mobile twenty-somethings discussing the merits of breast augmentation.  When one of the men asked why anyone would do this, his girlfriend replied in a somewhat incredulous whisper: “But … we’re doing it for you!” 

Even more taken aback was she when her beau was adamant that a pair of “plastic knockers” was not something he wanted. This wasn’t the first time I’ve heard (or overheard) men say they would rather have real flesh to cuddle than the lipo-sucked, nipped & tucked man-made versions churned out by the surgeons.

Ask many women what they believe men want and you’ll often hear Barbie-doll variations.  But Sam Keen – author of Fire in the Belly – claims that men listed the following qualities in women that turned them on: intelligence, sense of humour, physical attractiveness, independence, trustworthiness, sense of adventure, good values, self-confidence, sex appeal and kindness. When asked which quality they were likely to compromise on, physical appearance was the first to go – albeit reluctantly.  So if physical perfection is not a man’s top priority, then why are so many women obsessed with image neuroses? 

One of the greatest marketing success stories ever written is the cosmetic industry’s ability to bounce back from the damage done to it by feminism.  Over the past few decades, this industry has gradually convinced millions of women that cosmetic perfection has nothing to do with men; it is something that all self-respecting females must do for themselves.  And the once-feared scalpel has now become just a normal part of maintenance.

Even though women know that media images have been retouched to hide zits, Wrinkles and cellulite, how many still use this picture-perfect imagery to compare their own ‘imperfections’ against?  Today plastic surgeons no longer operate like ambulance-chasers waiting for accident victims to show up, now they have queues of hopefuls wanting to correct the most unfortunate catastrophe of all; not having been born with an airbrushed look.

Realistically TV shows like Extreme Makeovers’ are about as interesting as watching some poor sod having his appendix removed.  But the appeal is that these shows don’t dwell on the blood and gore or the weeks of agony it takes to heal from a face-lift or chemical burn.  Instead they play up the usual quick-fix promise that you too can be miraculously transformed … in about an hour or so.

I remember the days of cheap-and-cheerful face-creams and, call me old-fashioned, but no matter how much money we spend on miraculous anti-aging potions, no cream can alter the life experience etched into our faces.  Only those who’ve coughed up for expensive anti-aging snake-oil must convince themselves that each layer makes them look years younger, but for the rest of us the results are pretty obvious.  I’m always reminded of what Anita Roddick (founder of The Body Shop) said about people who buy the promise of  anti-wrinkle creams; it’s  just God’s way of testing who’s stupid! 

And then there is little more absurd than Botox injections.  Botox doesn’t reduce wrinkles, it paralyses facial muscles.  Produced from the deadly bacterium that makes Botulism the most lethal form of food poisoning, the British Medical Journal cautions that the ‘treatment’ could affect the brain, nervous system and muscles.  But evidently Botox dulls hearing too because now you can get this treatment at a cocktail party where your injections are served up between a glass of champagne and the canapés.    

It seems like an uncanny co-incidence that just at the time when females have regained the right to express themselves, that so many are paralysing the most expressive part of their body, their faces. 

No longer is this just about women though.  Since marketers cottoned-onto the fact that men are equally vulnerable, macho jocks have been bombarded with image marketing.  Remarkably quickly many swapped their crusty old industrial-strength soap for a more moisturising metrosexual lather. 

So the obvious question is:  For how long are we going to allow the all-powerful big marketing genie in the sky to genetically mutate millions of previously rational men and women into being a bull(sh*t) receptor on the one end and a non-stop cash dispenser on the other?

Virginia Madsen is one Hollywood star who’s open about her Botox treatments. Rather than hide them, Madsen isn’t ashamed to admit that she uses the procedure conservatively not for her fans or a guy but to feel great about herself.

“I don’t want to be 25. I’m 45. I love the way I look. I feel better than I ever have in my life,” the sexy star said.

As the model for the “Keep the Wisdom, Lose the Lines” campaign of the National Women’s Health Resource Center, Madsen hopes to educate women about injectable cosmetic treatments.

Desperate Housewives’ star Teri Hatcher can’t seem to make up her mind whether or not she loves Botox. Last year, she admitted being a Botox fan in the past but decided that she would rather age naturally and gracefully.

“I haven’t had anything done to my face in over a year. And I don’t plan to. It needs to be OK to have Wrinkles,” she told fans.

This year, she told the Daily Express that she never had Botox injections nor does she plan to get them.

Since it was approved for cosmetic purposes in 2002, Botox’s popularity has grown by leaps and bounds. Celebrities like Sylvester Stallone, Elizabeth Hurley, Ryan Seacrest, Celine Dion, Madonna, Cher, Kim Cattrall, and Kylie Minogue are suspected of using it. But the Botox Club isn’t confined to TV or movie stars. Thousands of men and women all over the world rely on this non-surgical procedure to fight wrinkles and the number of converts is increasing.

“The reason Botox has become so popular is due to the simplicity of the procedure. It does not require hospital admission, there are no surgical scars, no anesthesia and the results are visible in a few days,” according to an article in MediIndia.Com.

Botox is the brand name of the botulinum toxin type A, the purified form of the toxin secreted by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. When taken in large amounts, this toxin causes the food poisoning botulism. In small doses, Botox paralyzes specific muscles and stops them from contracting. This relaxes the muscles around wrinkles and makes the latter less noticeable.

Botox is currently used by doctors as a temporary treatment for moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows, crow’s feet, and wrinkles on the forehead.

“Not all facial wrinkles benefit from Botox injections, however. Botox won’t reverse wrinkling caused by sun damage. Also, it’s less effective treating the lines around your mouth because muscles in this area are needed for eating and talking. Your skin type, skin thickness and degree of wrinkling all play a role in determining whether these injections are effective for you,” said the MayoClinic.Com.

Moreover, the procedure is not free from side effects. Adverse reactions include pain and bruising at the injection site, redness, headache, nausea, and temporary facial weakness. At the hands of an inexperienced doctor, Botox injections can be dangerous.

For your safety and protection, choose a board certified physician. If you’d rather be sure than sorry, use a product that works like Botox like the Rejuvinol AM/PM Botox Alternative Age-Defying System. This anti-aging system combines the power of the Rejuvinol morning moisturizer that creates firmer, healthier, and younger-looking skin; and the Rejuvox night cream that reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Check out http://www.rejuvinol.com for more details.

How to Conceal Wrinkles …

… Less is more!

Never has that been so true when it comes to makeup and our faces as we age.

Here’s some tips on the right and the wrong ways to apply foundation and powders:

• Go light on the use of foundation. Most women use too much foundation in the attempt to cover up wrinkles and fine lines. This actually has the opposite effect of highlighting imperfections instead of covering them up.
• Use a tinted moisterizer instead and only on the parts of your face that you feel need it. Go a shade or two darker as well no matter how light your skin. Darker shades can also help to hide those wrinkles as lighter shades have the tendency to make them stand out.
• Powder Power: When you were younger, you probably had the problem of too much oil on your skin and thus used powder all over your face. Stop this habit Now! Powder absorbs moisture and oil as it is intended to do. Mature skin lacks moisture and doesn’t need it. Use it only on either your nose or chin areas. Professional makeup artists NEVER use powder on women over 50. Powder has the nasty habit of sitting on top of wrinkles and makes them stand out.

… Sagging Skin and What To Do About It

Plastic surgery? Facelifts? Botox?

Wait! Don’t run off and find a plastic surgeon just yet!

Makeup can do wonders here too.

Jowl lines are sometimes called funny lines as they extend from your nose are down to your jaw line. They appear most prominently when you laugh and that’s why they are referred to as “funny lines”. These tend to deepen as we age. You can minimize these by drawing attention away from them:

• Wear longer more prominent earrings as it will pull eyes away from your jaw lines
  but don’t wear chokers or large necklaces as they will draw attention to your jawline.
• Use the proper haircut – a trick to hide those sagging necklines. Haircuts that drop just below the chin will draw attention away from your chin. Longer cuts are better as they will draw the eyes even further down and distract from your neck.

Crow’s Feet…

… No Not Another Exotic Chinese Dish!

Crow’s feet are those wrinkles and fine lines that appear on the outside edges of our eyes.

They also appear often when you laugh as we crinkle our eyes when we do so.

When you were younger, your skin was elastic enough to bounce back from this act of crinkling.

Not so when you get older. Your skin loses its elasticity and these lines become permanent so:

• Don’t use heavy amounts of concealer or you’ll risk having “raccoon eyes”.
• Just apply a few dabs of concealer and lightly pat it on with a good high quality brush.
• Do not use powder around the eyes as it will settle into those lines.

Saggy Eyelids…

… Don’t use mascara on the bottom eyelashes. Instead:

• Curl your upper lashes and use the darkest color mascara you have on them to make your eyes pop.
• Use eyeliner only on the upper lid as well.
• Use liquid liner instead of a pencil as it stays better.
• Apply a natural looking curve line on the outer corners to give a faux lift to them. Make the lines light and not thick.
• Don’t line the inside of your eyes.
• Don’t use shimmer or light eyeshadow.
• Use darker shades to create a shadow effect to minimize the look of crow’s feet.

Thinning Hair …

… No. We’re not talking about a new hair re-growth product!

We can go to the moon but we can’t re-grow hair…yet!

Facial hair thins as well. For us women, particularly our eyebrows.

Thinning eyebrows need particular attention. Why? When thinning eyebrows, stray out of place uneven length hairs will stand out more than normal. Get them professionally done.
Don’t try to draw your own brows. They NEVER turn out looking good. If you must draw in to fill in, also have them professionally done.

Your lips will also thin as you grow older…

.. Yes, hair isn’t the only thing that thins!

Lips thin because we will lose fat in them as we age. That’s why women have fat injections to plump up their lips. But you don’t need to go to this extreme. Makeup can help here too:

• Pick the right lip color.
• Skip the bright colors.
• Use a color that is a shade or 2 darker than than your natural color.
• Create a lip line by using a lip liner – to compenaste for your lip line fading as you get
  older so .
• Then apply lipstick. Consider replacing your lipstick and using lip gloss instead.
• Gloss can create the illusion of plump lips.
• Don’t use lip plumpers. They do work but the effects are very temporary and when your lips deflate, it will cause your Lip Lines and lipstick to become displaced.