Dying To Be Beautiful (Part One)

We live in a society so obsessed with physical appearances that people are literally dying in the quest for beauty. The world dictates that it is not OK to age, that our bodies are flawed, that beauty is only skin deep.
People are going to great lengths to attain what they perceive to be perfection.



Let's have a look at the botox craze. First off, a bit of insight as to what botox actually is. Botox is a poison or toxin that is made by certain bacteria during food poisoning (botulism) Botulinum toxin blocks nerve activity in the muscles, causing a temporary reduction in muscle activity. The bacteria can spread from the injection site and infect other areas. The toxin affects nerve endings, preventing the brain from sending messages that make muscles contract.  This is why often time people who have had botox injections appear to be emotionless, their muscles have been paralyzed. Another factor that needs to be taken into consideration is fake botox. Recent studies have shown that up there has been a 20% increase in the use of fake botox.


Recently the Dr Oz show featured a couple who were given botulinum toxin type A - a black market version not licensed for human use that was 2,000 times more potent than Botox. The couple was hospitalised within 24 hrs of getting this done. They remained in the hospital for about three months during which they were paralysed and on a ventilator. They had to learn to walk again, to speak, everything basically.  All because they wanted to get rid of a few wrinkles. There having been several doctors who have been arrested and prosecuted for administering fake box, and other every day citizens who have no training in this field.


These are links for  some of these stories.
http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Fake-Botox-Doc-Busted-for-Bad-Injections-122659259.html

http://www.foxreno.com/news/7978408/detail.html

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/health/Officials-Dangerous-Fake-Botox-Given-to-LA-Patients.html



While I am not in favor of such procedures, if you are going to have it done you should be certain to take the necessary precautions. You need to ensure that the person who is administering the botox is licensed and has experience in this field. You also need to ask questions as to what is being injected into you and where did the doctor purchase it from. Only a medical practitioner should administer such treatment. You should stay far away from "specials" and "practices" in suspicious places such as malls and hotel rooms. It's your health. Be proactive.