When Botox first started getting popular in the 1980s, it was generally only used for older people who wanted to remove facial wrinkles. In 2019, there are some people under the age of 25 who are coming in for this non-invasive procedure to disrupt or stop the formation of facial wrinkles.

Social media sites and reality t.v. shows such as the Kardashians have generated increased interest in Botox procedures for people under 25. With all this newfound interest, there are some people who are questioning if there should be a minimum age for Botox.

We’re going to take a look at what Botox is, the recent surge of interest by people under the age of 25, and whether or not an age limit should be set.

What is Botox?

Botox is the brand name given to a highly purified form of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It produces paralysis of the muscles in its natural state.

In the late 1970s, scientists realized that they could medically refine the toxin, dilute its strength, and then use it to help smooth out facial wrinkles. It’s administered in the form of a needle injection into the facial area where lines exist.

In addition to cosmetic applications, Botox is also very useful in treating medical conditions such as certain eye disorders, muscle spasms, and is also used in dental procedures as well.

Banning Botox for People Under 25?

Back in June of 2019, a plastic surgeon in Ireland suggested that Botox and fillers should be banned for people under the age of 25. He reasoned that the facial area of younger people isn’t fully grown, and it could potentially cause development issues.

The media then picked up on this and sensationalized it. Many newspapers across the world (including the U.S.) ran with this story as if it were 100% fact. However, many surgeons say that setting an age limit is unreasonable as they feel discretion is much more important.

Discretion vs. Age

Many plastic surgeons are questioning the validity of the statement given by the Irish plastic surgeon. They feel that limiting Botox and filler treatments should be done on a case-by-case basis and focused more on discretion versus age.

Instead of asking, “Is this person old enough?” surgeons should be asking: “Is there a valid reason why this person wants to get Botox?” Age is arbitrary as each person develops at their own rate, so it’s unfair and unreasonable to take a draconian stance against Botox and use “25” as the cutoff age.

In fact, many plastic surgeons can’t remember the last time they treated someone in their late teens or early 20s. When younger patients do come in, it’s usually for lip fillers or to treat a valid medical condition that requires a neuro-modulator.

Ethical Standards

The problem with Botox safety for those under 25 exists more with unlicensed day spas whose employees are inexperienced and don’t have any medical training whatsoever. They tend to offer cut-rate or Groupon Botox discounts, which makes it very appealing to younger people who are on a budget.

Board-Certified plastic surgeons, such as Dr. Adams have taken an oath to practice ethical standards and put the best interests of their patients first off and foremost. This means that if someone under the age of 25 were to walk into a plastic surgery office looking to get work done, the plastic surgeon would evaluate the patient based on ethical standards.

There are also many medical reasons why someone in their late teens or early 20s would get Botox. From such dental conditions as Jaw Tension and TMJ to medical issues such as gummy smiles and various facial disorders, Botox has helped improve the lives of countless people under the age of 25.

 Botox Safety

When administered by a trained plastic surgeon, Botox is extremely safe. Although, many so-called “day spas” are legally allowed to sell and administer it as well. The problem with this is that the day spa technicians usually only get a weekend class in how to inject Botox versus the 10+ years of medical school and training that a plastic surgeon gets.

The human face is a complex mixture of nerves, blood vessels, and various muscles. Unless the procedure is performed by a plastic surgeon or one of their highly trained staff members, there can be a considerable risk. It’s very easy to accidentally stick the needle into the wrong area and cause permanent damage.

Should There Be an Age Minimum?

Many plastic surgeons feel that there should be an age minimum provided that there is a valid reason for getting Botox or fillers injected. The most significant risk from injectables lies not with people under 25 getting work done, but rather the day spas that employ technicians who only attended a weekend course on how to administer a Botox injection.

These workers do not have highly skilled medical training nor the complete and total understanding of human facial anatomy to safely perform Botox procedures. These day spas will offer injections to anyone for any reason, whereas a plastic surgeon is bound to an oath that he took to first look out for the health and best interests of the patient.

At the end of the day, plastic surgeons should look at each patient on a case-by-case basis rather than their chronological age when it comes time to administering Botox and fillers.

Almost every single person in the U.S. has had to deal with acne at some point in their life. It mostly occurs during the teen and early adult years and is characterized by oily skin and pimples. For many people, it’s a rite of passage from puberty into adulthood that eventually clears up and goes away.

However, some people will suffer from very severe acne breakouts that makes them feel like their skin is a literal war zone. Pot marks, sensitive skin, and even scarring can occur and cause self-confidence issues. For these people, the over-the-counter acne medications you can find at any given drug store are useless and don’t work.

The good news is that medical science and technology have advanced and converged to the point where doctors can use specially designed lasers to help treat acne and acne scarring.

We’re going to take a look at the Sciton Laser treatment and how it’s helping millions of people get their acne breakouts under control and treat the horrible scarring that can occur along with it.

What Causes Acne?

The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that around 50 million Americans suffer from acne on an annual basis. Hormones, oily skin, and even diet can cause acne to start to form. Whiteheads, blackheads, and even painful lumps can also develop.

While the majority of acne occurs in the facial area, it can also be present on the upper back, forehead, and shoulder area. If left untreated, acne can cause scarring and self-esteem issues. Unless treated, the scarring can be permanent and cause the face and other parts of the body to look like there are a bunch of little craters on it.

What is Acne Scarring?

The problem with severe acne is that its effects will continue to plague someone long after the acne has disappeared. Scarring on the face where the acne once was can start to develop if the breakout is serious enough. It usually takes the form of small little craters that look like pot marks. The reason scarring occurs is due to the acne breakout deeply penetrating the skin and damaging the underlying facial tissue.

While there are many over-the-counter treatments for acne scarring, they tend not to work very well. In many cases, they only cover up the scars but don’t treat or get rid of them completely. To remove scarring from severe acne breakouts, many people are turning to laser therapy.

Sciton Laser to Treat Acne Scarring

Sciton® MicroLaserPeel™ Skin Resurfacing treatment is an excellent way to help reduce the appearance of acne, acne scars, and other skin blemishes. It’s very similar to a chemical peel, but without the harmful chemicals. It’s completely safe and can treat the neck, chest, hands, and facial areas. It can also be highly customized to address each patient’s skin type and tone.

In addition to the helping lessen the appearance of scars, the Sciton Laser also helps reduce visual signs of aging. It will improve the skin texture and tone as it leaves patients with a much clearer complexation and healthy glow.

How Does Sciton Laser Treatment Work?

The Sciton Laser Treatment uses an Erbium laser to create a skin resurfacing system which delivers light energy to the upper layers of the skin. The laser wand is gently scanned over the treatment area and will start to remove the top layer of damaged skin cells.

As the skin starts to heal itself, new cells will emerge and resurface the area which can help lessen scars, wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, and other skin blemishes. The healing process can take from several days to several weeks as the appearance of the scars will start to lessen.

Side Effects of the Sciton Laser Treatment?

The Sciton Laser Treatment has similar side effects to that of a chemical peel. The main difference is that lasers only use light to get the job done, not toxic chemicals. Side effects can vary from patient to patient as their skin types will react differently to the laser treatments.

Generally speaking, the patient will feel like they have a mild sunburn on their skin. This is entirely normal as the laser removed the damaged top layer, and now their body has gone into healing mode. Some people may experience itching, stinging, or symptoms of a severe sunburn along with oozing, inflamed skin, and maybe even a blister or two.

As gross as this sounds, it’s completely normal and is a good sign that your body is rapidly working to create new cells to heal the area. It’s advised that you don’t pick or scratch at the area as it will only delay the healing process. If you have super sensitive skin, inform your doctor before you undergo the procedure as they can recommend over-the-counter remedies to help make your healing process more comfortable.

Sciton Laser Treatment in Dallas

If you or a loved one are suffering from acne or acne scarring, give us a call at (469) 868-6005 or contact us on our website. At Aya Skin Care, we have many non-invasive medical treatments that can help lessen the appearance of acne scarring. Contact us today to learn more about how we can make your skin look better and help restore your self-confidence!

Have you ever had a face-to-face conversation with someone and their facial expressions don’t quite match up with what they’re saying?

You might notice something is a little stiff, or a little off, yet you can’t quite put your finger on it…

There’s a good chance that they probably have had some work done to their face in the form of Botox or fillers. More specifically, they’ve had over-work done to the point that muscles in their face are not working properly.

There are 43 muscles in the human face. They control what we look like when we smile, when we speak, and when we’re passively listening to someone. If someone gets too much Botox, or if they get the procedure done at a “day spa,” there’s an excellent chance that they will get that unnatural look.

We’re going to look at the various causes of unnatural looks and how people can avoid the “uncanny valley” effect that sometimes occurs when they get too much Botox or fillers done to their face.

Causes of Unnatural Looks

When performed correctly in the offices of a qualified plastic surgeon, Botox, and other injectables can help remove wrinkles and offer results that the patient will be satisfied with. However, there are certain other instances that can lead to dissatisfaction.

Getting the procedure done in a day spa, not having proper expectations, and viewing injectables as a cure-all for facial aging signs can significantly contribute to that unnatural look to the human face.

Vetting Your Plastic Surgeon

One of the first things you should do is properly vet your surgeon before setting foot into their office. Be sure that they have board certification from The American Board of Plastic Surgery. This is a huge indicator of whether or not you’re walking into the office of a trained surgical expert—or someone who took a weekend course on Botox.

The so-called “day spas” that offer facial and beauty treatments sometimes perform Botox and other filler injections. Currently, there are no laws that require a qualified plastic surgeon to perform the procedure. Many of these day spa “technicians” take a weekend course on how to administer Botox or fillers and then go back to work on Monday.

As we explained before, there are 43 muscles in the human face and one of the biggest causes of that unnatural look is the inexperience of the person administering it. Botox can also easily be messed up if the person isn’t familiar with human facial anatomy. Board certified plastic surgeons spend years in college and take very challenging exams to get certified.

Proper Expectations

Many people don’t have proper expectations and as a result, get way more Botox or injectables than what’s needed. This is why sitting down with a plastic surgeon for a consultation is so important. They can explain to you what to expect, and based on your conversation, tell you if your expectations are reasonable—or not.

Remember, Botox and fillers are somewhat subtle in terms of results. While they can smoothen out wrinkles and age lines, they are still somewhat limited in what they can do when compared to an invasive plastic surgery procedure such as a facelift.

You’re not going to shave 20 years of aging off your face with a few pricks of the needle. In situations like this, a surgical facelift is a much better option.

When is Enough?

It’s best to listen to the advice of your plastic surgeon when determining that you’ve had enough work done. There are many surgeons out there who are not Board Certified, and they’re more interested in making money than they are the safety and well-being of their patients.

A good plastic surgeon will offer their expert opinion, and it’s up to the patient to listen to them and heed their advice. Otherwise, a situation will occur where they will get more work than is needed, and the result will look extremely unnatural to the point where everyone starts to take notice.

Unlike fillers which can show immediate results, Botox sometimes takes a few weeks to a month or two to fully go to work.  If someone is impatient, they can easily cause their face to start looking weird if they visit another plastic surgeon or day spa because they’re not satisfied with the results they’ve gotten so far.

Botox takes time to go to work, and before you seek to get more done, you should first consult with the surgeon who initially performed the procedure. You may just need to wait a few more weeks for it to kick in.

Conclusion

While anyone can administer Botox and other fillers, it takes the skilled hands of a plastic surgeon to get you the look that you desire. If you’re in the Dallas area and are considering getting non-surgical work done to your face, give Dr. Adams a call at (214) 965-9885 or schedule an appointment via the website.

Summer here and that means hot weather, BBQs, and most importantly: bathing suits. If you haven’t been keeping up with your New Year’s resolution to go to the gym at least 3x a week, there are a few options to help you get your body ready for swimsuit season.

While you could always undergo the knife, it could get rather expensive. You also might not heal up fully until the leaves start turning color in the fall time. Fortunately, there are a few affordable non-surgical procedures that can help you get a banging hot body just in time for summer.

Here are our top five recommendations for getting that summer beach bod without undergoing the knife!

Coolsculpting

Got a little bit of extra baggage under your arms or love handles that you just can’t seem to get rid of? Coolsculpting can help get rid of that “stubborn fat” that many people have come to accept it as an inevitability of life.

Coolsculpting uses science to literally freeze fat cells in their tracks. As the fat cells freeze, they die off, and your body naturally absorbs them. There are no injections, no chemicals, nothing but a wand that the doctor or his assistant will place over the problem areas to freeze the fat.

The entire procedure can be done in an outpatient setting, and you’ll be back to your regular daily routine after a single session at the plastic surgeon’s office.

Botox

What good is a beach body if you don’t have the face to match? Botox has been around for a few decades and is a safe and effective way to treat wrinkles and age lines. Millions of people have gotten the procedure, which can shave a few years off your face.

Botox is administered through a needle by a plastic surgeon or one of his highly trained assistants. It can take a few weeks to a month or so before the full results start to make themselves apparent. However, most people tend to see results within a week or so. The entire procedure takes anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes and you can go back to your regular schedule immediately with no downtime whatsoever!

ThermiSmooth and Thermi-Tight

If you were recently pregnant or lost a lot of weight, you might notice some saggy skin on certain parts of your body. Non-invasive procedures such as ThermiSmooth and Thermi-Tight can help tighten up and smooth out those problem areas.

They work by applying heat to the deeper layers of your skin. This helps stimulate elastin and collagen production, and your skin tone and texture will improve over the course of a few treatments.

Thermi-Tight is a procedure performed over 1-2 hours and can help tighten the breasts, tummy, neck, and thigh areas. ThermiSmooth uses radiofrequency waves to heat the skin, causing it to tighten and smooth.

Laser Treatments

Lasers aren’t just relegated to Star Wars movies and eye surgery. Low-level laser therapy emits cold laser energy into body tissues which are absorbed by fat cells. These fat cells are broken down and naturally absorbed into the body.

The best part about Low-level laser therapy is that while you can feel the laser device physically touching your skin, there is no pain sensation whatsoever. Patients literally do not feel a single thing during the five to ten-minute procedure. Over the next few weeks to a few months, your body will harmlessly absorb the body fat that was treated.

Do you have too much hair in a specific area of your body? You can also get laser hair removal which permanently gets rid of that unsightly and pesky body hair. In some cases, it can take several appointments to get rid of the hair entirely. This is entirely dependent on how much hair is in the problem area.

Healthy Diet

Ok, so we had to throw this one in there. You can always make a mid-year (early summer?) resolution to eat better and exercise more regularly. You might find that by the time summer is over, you’ll have lost a few pounds and look and feel a bit younger.

Of course, this natural approach to weight loss takes time and willpower. If you’re willing to give it a shot, you should find an accountability buddy or friend who can motivate you to eat healthy and work out on days when you’d rather be sitting on the couch watching t.v.

Non-Invasive Surgical Treatments in Dallas

If you suffer from embarrassing body fat, wrinkles, or other problem areas, you owe it to yourself to make an appointment with Dr. Adams. He  just recently opened AYA Dallas, a state of the art medical spa offering a wide variety of non-invasive treatments that can help you lose weight and make you feel younger again.

Best of all, all these procedures can be performed in an outpatient setting in under an hour or so. Give us a call at (214) 965-9885 to schedule an appointment or visit our website to learn more about the revolutionary non-invasive surgical treatments that we offer!

Botox has been around now for well over 30 years. What once was a social taboo, is now one of the most popular non-invasive plastic surgery enhancements out there.

Traditionally, people over the age of 35 (think GenX and Baby Boomers) would get the procedure to remove facial wrinkles and tighten up their skin. Recent research and several news articles state that the newest Botox clients are Millennials.

Why would someone in the prime of their youth get Botox?

We’re going to look at the recent phenomenon of Millennials and Botox and discover why it’s become so prevalent with this younger generation.

Access to Technology

Unlike the Baby Boomer and GenX generations, Millennials grew up using computers and the internet. This means that throughout their life they have had access to information that the other two generations haven’t.

For example, someone from the Baby Boomer generation would understand that using sunscreen helps prevent sunburns. What they might not have realized in the pre-internet years of the 1980s is how damaging sun can be to human skin. Only dermatologists, researchers, and doctors knew that too much sun exposure could cause aging issues when someone hits their 40’s.

With access to computers and the internet, Millennials can instantly see pictures of people in their 40’s and 50’s who got way too much sun exposure in their youth. They also have access to on-demand medical information sites which will tell them that overexposure to the sun can have damaging long-term effects upon the skin.

Being on Top of the News

When GenX and Baby Boomers wanted to read the news in the 1980s and early 1990s, they had to run out and buy a newspaper. The news cycle moved a lot slower in those days because the Internet didn’t exist yet. The only beauty advice people would get came from magazines in the checkout aisle of a supermarket or from their doctor.

With the advent of the internet and 1-hour news cycle, Millennials have quick and easy access to the latest news stories about how well Botox works. They can see just how good various social media celebrities look after a round of injections and naturally want to emulate their heroes.

Online Research

The ability to perform instant, on-demand online research is another factor responsible for the increasing number of Millennials looking to get Botox injections. They can look up various plastic surgery clinics, read their reviews, and research the overall patient satisfaction. This, in turn, gives them a greater sense of confidence that they will be happy with the results.

The internet also gives them access to a wealth of information such as new procedures that combine Botox and injectables to perform a non-surgical facelift. Access to all of this information helps them make more informed decisions when it comes to beauty and wanting to look your best.

Social Media

Millennials are the most clued in when it comes to social media. Unlike Grandma who logs into Facebook once a week to upload pictures of her kittens or grandkids, Millennials use social media on a daily (and sometimes hourly) basis.

They also follow various social media celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and other online models. These e-celebs go to great lengths to look their best and Millennials can see just how well a few injections of Botox work.

Social media encourages people to post pictures and videos of themselves. Before they post their photos, they can use various filters to edit their skin tone, color, and soften up perceived self-defects in their images. As times goes by, they feel like they have to look as good as they do in their heavily-edited social media photos.

When it comes to social media, it’s very easy for Millennials to get caught up in an obsession with their physical appearance as they want to look their best all the time.

Physical Appearance Obsession 

Social media and the obsession with physical appearance have driven more and more Millennials into the plastic surgery office.

While they may not have as many wrinkles as someone in their 40’s, some doctors have reported that Millennials getting lip and other facial enhancements have gone through the roof.

Many of them also feel a lot of peer pressure to look their best as social media and competition amongst their friends makes them feel like getting Botox is a necessity, not a luxury.

Payment Plans

Some plastic surgery offices have been experimenting with a subscription-based model wherein Millennials would pay a low monthly recurring fee.

This would enable them to spread out the costs of Botox and dermal fillers over the course of a year and allow them to come back into the plastic surgeon’s office for routine maintenance.

Millennials have responded very well to the subscription-based model as it’s much easier on the wallet than shelling out $500 or more for a single session.

Millennials and Botox

As the stigma of Botox and plastic surgery starts to wear off, and more and more Millennials look to retain their youthful good looks, it stands to reason that this trend will only increase as the years go by.  We live in an era where many people feel that they have to look their best 24/7 and injectables and Botox are an easy way to accomplish that goal.