Ask the Expert: Beauty Corner DC

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Question: Dear Dr. Sapra,

(NC)-I have tried numerous facial creams that promise to reduce lines and wrinkles, but I have seen minimal changes to the look of my skin. I am interested in trying Botox, but have heard of many people being left with a "stunned" or "frozen" appearance afterwards. Is this true?

Thanks, Susan

Answer: Dear Susan,

The fact is, no creams work as effectively as Botox - many studies have shown that Botox is the gold standard in wrinkle treatment. Topical creams simply do not have the same effect on facial muscles. A recent study found that after 12 weeks of using top-rated wrinkle creams, even the best performers only reduced the depth of wrinkles by less than 10 per cent, a change that is barely visible.

Botox is the number one cosmetic procedure in North America and its use grows yearly. Botox works below the surface of the skin to relax facial muscles. When delivered by a trained physician, Botox results do look natural. Remember, a trained physician will tailor the treatment to your desired overall effect, even if it's very subtle. Most patients I see in my practice say that friends often tell them they look like they came back from vacation and usually don't even know they had a treatment done.

The treatment can be used to smooth frown lines, crow's feet lines, wrinkles between the eyebrows and forehead wrinkles. Botox works by blocking the nerve impulse from reaching the targeted muscle, making it temporarily relax. When the muscle relaxes, the dynamic muscle overlying the muscle is smoothed away. The treatment takes three to seven days to take effect and lasts from four to six months.

To learn more about Botox and other beauty treatments, I recommend consulting the FACEinstitute.ca (www.FACEinstitute.ca), an educational website created to help Canadians understand the growing world of cosmetic treatment. On the site, you can try a virtual cosmetic treatment, connect with a leading cosmetic doctor close to you and compare various cosmetic treatments.

Dr. Sheetal Sapra is a leading dermatologist from the Institute of Cosmetic and Laser Surgery in Oakville, and has been practicing for 18 years.

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