Beauty may be only skin deep, but that’s what we see in the mirror and it doesn’t always reflect the image we’d prefer.
Many women see no reason to be dissatisfied.
At the very least they would like to know their options. Plastic surgery is one way to go, but it’s not for the knife-averse.
More than 80 women flocked to a luncheon Sept. 12 at Tivoli Terrace to hear alternatives to surgery — most of which involved needles, but not the kind used for stitches.
“Look Good, Feel Good — at Any Age” was presented by the Women’s Advisory Council of South Coast Medical Center. Guests were welcomed by Kate Buda, assistant executive director of the center’s fundraising foundation and chairwoman of the council.
“When we were planning this program I learned a lot — and I want it all,” Buda said.
One guest, who prefers to remain nameless, blurted out, “You want it all — I’ve had it all.” Botox seemed to arouse the most interest and no wonder.
It’s not a flash in the pan — you should excuse the pun. An estimated 2,272,080 Botox injections were administered in 2007. Another estimate was even higher, at 3 million injections.
Dr. Arian Mowlavi was the first speaker. He offered advice for those considering Botox and explained what it does and what a patient needs to know about it.
He knows whereof he speaks. Mowlavi is American Board of Plastic Surgeons certified, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the Alpha Omego Alpha Honor Medical Society and the Orange County Society of Plastic Surgeons and on the staff of SCMC.
There are several types of Botox, but only one that has U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval.
Botox is the trade-marked name for Botulinum Toxin A.
“In 1989, Botox was approved for medical use in 1989 and in 1990 it was approved for wrinkles,” Mowlavi said. “It paralyzes muscles.”
Botox is made from bacteria. It comes in 100-unit bottles, which is too much for one person. Bring a friend, Mowlavi said.
It must be reconstituted, and the less liquid added, the better.
“Make sure you pay per unit, not per area,” Mowlavi said. “That’s what you pay for and if you don’t get it, the wrinkles will come back sooner.”
And you don’t want an injection from reconstituted Botox that has been sitting around for 24 hours or more.
“Find out when it was reconstituted,” Mowlavi said.
