How safe is discounted Botox?

Hello girls

Watch this space….on Tuesday I was re-botoxed and had some more fillers done. We took before pics and in about two weeks time once the effects are completely visible we will be doing after shots which I will post for you to see.
But now on to some serious stuff. I was, by way of e-mail ,invited to a botox party the other day..yes a botox party! A gathering of girls having a drink and a doctor arriving and then botoxing the inebriated ladies…a dangerous combination! I have also received in my inbox several times an invitation via a group discount company to have discounted botox.

In wishing to blog about both of these topics I am going to share with you an article that wa published in the Longevity magazine a while ago…written by a highly respected and reputable aesthetic medical practioner who practices in Cape Town and in Kings Road Chelsea , London. It was in THE ASK THE EXPERTS SECTION and a reader had posed the question : ARE CHEAP TREATMENTS OR “50 PER CENT OFF” ONLINE VOUCHERS FOR BOTOX TREATMENTS SAFE?

With regards this question and the question of how ethical botox parties are, Dr Alek Nikolic answers most succinctly. Herewith the article.

Ask the experts.

Q are cheap treatments or “50 per cent off” online vouchers for Botox treatments safe.

Dr Alek Nikolic replies :

Any discount treatments should ring alarm bells. All doctors are governed by ethical and legal guidelines of the Health professional council or South Africa (hpcsa), which states that advertising pricing, including any discounts on scheduled medicine , (such as botox) , is not allowed. Doctors administering scheduled medication must do so at their registered medical practices. Cheaper cosmetic treatments at salons or spas, or even, “botox parties”, are viewed as unethical and illegal by the council and the doctor’s malpractice insurance. Botox is an expensive drug and a 50 per cent off deal, may imply that the doctor is not injecting the original botox , using a non-registered botox variant: or injectables are imported(directly by the doctor) that contain animal derived(non-human) carrier proteins which may lead to unwanted effects and severe anaphylaxis ; or the incorrect amount of units is being used, which will allow for a poor result. It is your right as a patient to check the vial that is being used.

Your choice of doctor depends on your best word of mouth referral and with whom you feel most comfortable.

Hello girls
Watch this space….on Tuesday I was re-botoxed and had some more fillers done. We took before pics and in about two weeks time once the effects are completely visible we will be doing after shots which I will post for you to see.
But now on to some serious stuff. I was, by way of e-mail ,invited to a botox party the other day..yes a botox party! A gathering of girls having a drink and a doctor arriving and then botoxing the inebriated ladies…a dangerous combination! I have also received in my inbox several times an invitation via a group discount company to have discounted botox.
In wishing to blog about both of these topics I am going to share with you an article that wa published in the Longevity magazine a while ago…written by a highly respected and reputable aesthetic medical practioner who practices in Cape Town and in Kings Road Chelsea , London. It was in THE ASK THE EXPERTS SECTION and a reader had posed the question : ARE CHEAP TREATMENTS OR “50 PER CENT OFF” ONLINE VOUCHERS FOR BOTOX TREATMENTS SAFE?
With regards this question and the question of how ethical botox parties are, Dr Alek Nikolic answers most succinctly. Herewith the article.
Ask the experts.
Q are cheap treatments or “50 per cent off” online vouchers for Botox treatments safe.
Dr Alek Nikolic replies :
Any discount treatments should ring alarm bells. All doctors are governed by ethical and legal guidelines of the Health professional council or South Africa (hpcsa), which states that advertising pricing, including any discounts on scheduled medicine , (such as botox) , is not allowed. Doctors administering scheduled medication must do so at their registered medical practices. Cheaper cosmetic treatments at salons or spas, or even, “botox parties”, are viewed as unethical and illegal by the council and the doctor’s malpractice insurance. Botox is an expensive drug and a 50 per cent off deal, may imply that the doctor is not injecting the original botox , using a non-registered botox variant: or injectables are imported(directly by the doctor) that contain animal derived(non-human) carrier proteins which may lead to unwanted effects and severe anaphylaxis ; or the incorrect amount of units is being used, which will allow for a poor result. It is your right as a patient to check the vial that is being used.
Your choice of doctor depends on your best word of mouth referral and with whom you feel most comfortable.

Consumer Idiots

Hello Girls!

Couldn’t resist a quick blog about resisting the urge to be a CONSUMER IDIOT!
Yes I confess , I am a compulsive label reader , I read the backs of cereal boxes, the milk carton.. .what’s written on my tube of sun screen cream in fine print… ..and yes of course beauty product labels!
AND…the more outrageous the promises on those creams …the more I feel myself being suckered in and believing that in just two weeks time I WILL look 21 again…………….AND THEN I COME TO MY SENSES….I remind myself of what I have learned .
I am still a consumer idiot sometimes..it can be hard not to believe what ‘they’ say……but for the most part…..I can read it…..and walk away now! I am tired of wasting my money.
With the above in mind I urge you to read the following review that I found on a website which does reviews on many popular creams that promise AND guarantee to make your wrinkles vanish and your sagging skin sag no more!
The address is wrinklebest.com, if you want to log on yourself and have a look at more reviews.
Take care all
And ps: HAPPY VALENTINES DAY GIRLS!!!!

Olay Regenerist Cream
Wrinkle Cream Review Rating: 45/100

The Oil of Olay Regenerist line is definately the first product line launched by the brand, that trys to create the image of one of the top end wrinkle creams we usually review on this site. Considering the price was only $26 on drugstore.com For a minute there, I had become pretty excited that there was a chance I didn’t have to keep spending so much for a really effective wrinkle cream. However, after 3 weeks of using the Regenerist Micro-sculpting Cream, I realized WHY I buy the more expensive creams.

The First Impression of this Wrinkle Cream:
I was surprised at how nice a glass or heavy plastic bottle this came in. Usually, the drugstore creams are in cheap plastic tubs or what have you. This product though, is clearly designed to make you feel like you’re using a superior product. The scent is fine, although a little bit “perfumy”, and it doesn’t feel too heavy or greasy on the skin.

The ingredients of this wrinkle cream:
The Regenerist Micro-sculpting cream contains some of the peptide based ingredients that work on a cellular level, as well as elastin, collagen, and a number of other common ingredients. Basically, some pretty decent sceince behind the product, according to what I know about wrinkle creams, and how I can compare them to the others. I DID notice that this product contains Parabens. Although parabens haven’t officially been proven to cause illness or damage, they have been linked in some studies. So, those consumers who are very “paraben cautious” you will want to avoid this cream.

How did the cream work?
Based on the ingredients, I thought I’d get better results from the wrinkle cream. It is supposed to firm saggy areas, smooth the skin’s surface, and restore elasticity. The ingredients the cream has SHOULD have had some effects like this, but frankly I didnt see it. Perhaps Olay has to be so cautious about the pricing of their creams, that they can only put these ingredients in very small percentages. This way, the ingredient list looks good, but the cost stays low. I dont know if that’s the case, but this cream really did absolutely nothing to my skin. I DID feel like I got some moisture out of it, and my skin felt smooth after I applied the cream.. but no better than using any facial moisturizer you can get for a few bucks. In other words, I was pretty disappointed in this wrinkle cream.

The Pro’s of Olay Regenerist Micro-sculpting cream:
• The price is low - at $26 you don’t have much to lose
• It provides moisture
• Easily accessible and always in stock
• Nice packaging for a cream so affordable

The Negatives of Olay Regenerist Micro-sculpting cream:
• It did very little to my skin, as far as removing wrinkles and sagginess
• The ingredient list inspires confidence, but fails to perform
• slightly overpowering perfume scent
• contains parabens
Overall Opinion of this wrinkle cream:
If you only have $20 or so to spend on a wrinkle cream, this might be a good choice for you. However, if you are willing to pay for superior products, you definitely want to go with one of the other products out there that contains copper peptides and strong scientifically backed ingredients. I didn’t have any adverse reactions to this wrinkle cream, but I didn’t see any good results either. Overall, this cream is what you pay for… a good $20 cream. It’s nothing more. As I said, if you can afford the better products out there, you should definitely choose one of them over this product.

Hitting the right spot

Hitting the right spot!
As medical technology advances at a rapid rate, so too do innovations in aesthetic beauty. The latest innovation , and one which is now available at the Taryn Laine Clinic, is something called VASER THERAPY.
IN A NUTSHELL….vaser therapy is a non-invasive form of liposuction. Ultrasound technology gently removes those stubborn fatty deposits that no amount of blood , sweat and tears in a gym or any diet will remove. Upper arms, thighs, knees, muffin tops…..all those areas where the fat just won’t budge can be targeted with vaser therapy.
The procedure is done at the doctor’s rooms and you can be back at work the next day!
However don’t rule out traditional liposuction as an option..the results are just as good and it is much cheaper than vaser therapy.
Log onto the Taryn laine website…..www.tarynlaine.co.za to see the amazing before and after pictures .
And while we‘re talking trouble spots, you may not know that there is something you can do about those ageing EYEBAGS without going under the knife! ANOTHER GREAT INNOVATIVE PROCEDURE! AESTHETIC PHSYICIANS HAVE FOUND A WAY TO DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF UNDEREYE BAGS AND HOLLOWS UNDER THE EYES.
HOW IS IT DONE……… a combination of botox and fillers is used ….it’s as simple as that …the treatment takes about half an hour … AND I CAN VOUCH FOR THIS ANTI-AGEING PROCEDURE……the results are so amazing…I could not believe the difference. Once again log onto the website and see my before and after shots!
And if you haven’t tried botox yet..what are you waiting for…no cream …no matter the promises it makes..and no matter the price tag ……can achieve the results botox does!
There is no doubt in a couple of years to come, going for botox injections will be as commonplace as going to have your hair done!
Till next time ..take care girls….and stay out of the sun if you want to take care of your skin!
Carol-ann

I sigh deeply as I begin to type this……so many doubting thomas’!!! I still encounter quite a few people who really want to do something about their wrinkles and really want to try botox but are just a little scared of the whole thing! I’ll keep it short n sweet...this is what you need to know about botox.
It has become the most frequent cosmetic procedure used all over the world and it has been FDA APPROVED FOR TWENTY YEARS!!! FDA approved means BOTOX IS SAFE TO USE ON YOUR FACE!
WHAT CAN BOTOX DO : It is used to eradicate frown lines, forehead lines and crows feet. It can also be used to improve a gummy smile , to soften smokers lines on the lips,to help lift a downturning mouth, soften lines on the neck and lift the neck and jawline. Botox can also be used to create a brow lift...this can have an amazing effect...I have had it done once or twice and the effect is awesome.
Nowadays women are having botox done when wrinkles first start appearing ...the reason...this prevents wrinkles from becoming deep and ingrained . The effects of botox usually last from between 3 to 6 months. I have found that having had botox for four years now I can go longer and longer between top ups. I have included a pic of Madonna ...this pic was taken last week at the Venice film festival. It has not been airbrushed and it’s a close up….she looks amazing. Madonna is 53 now and proof that ‘liquid’ facelifts really do work. Anyway...

Another important fact you need to know...botox can only cause you to have a frozen looking expression if you go to an inexperienced aesthetic medical practitioner or if you go to someone who is not qualified to administer botox.

I hope that this has cleared up the whole botox and safety debate...if you have any questions please just mail us!
Before I go……how happy are we that spring is finally here! However I leave you with this fact as we look forward to those lazy hazy days of summer...80 per cent of all visible aging is caused by the sun!
Make sure you wear a sunscreen every day...even in winter!!! Oh...and speaking of summer, log onto the Taryn Laine Clinic website and see the amazing results of VASER THERAPY! Dr Mike Henry has the only vaser machine in Port Elizabeth, the results will astound you .
Till next time…take care
Carol-ann!

BOTOX AND BROCCOLI ..A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS!

BOTOX AND BROCCOLI……A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS!

I really do love broccoli…..and I know it’s good for me….but I think I like botox more! While the experts tell me that broccoli will help to keep me looking young, I’m not taking any chances…..botox really does deliver on it’s promises. Proof of this , a new set of pre-botox and post botox pictures of myself.
Now there are those who choose to age ‘gracefully’ and those who choose not to….whatever your choice. .I don’t think either school of thought should be judged for whichever way they choose to age…..that being said…that you are reading this means that you are more than a little interested in the amazing effects of botox . You won’t be disappointed.
Dr Mike Henry has been doing my botox for three and a half years now and I can honestly say that his work is exceptional. Administering botox is a highly specialised procedure….you need to go to someone who really knows what they are doing. Anyway….a picture says more than a thousand words ever could so do take a look at the pics.
Once you’ve decided to take the plunge you will find yourself in good company……Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman, Kim Kardashien , Jenni Mcarthey, Vaness Williams, Linda Evangilista….the list goes on and on! The ages of these celebrities varies….some are 36 when they start, some in their twenties..it’s a personal choice..I started when I was 48..that was the right age for me. I have to tell you the beauty of Doctor Henry’s work is that he will never make you look unnatural.


Oh just a quick footnote.. for anyone who is a little afraid of needles.. Dr Henry uses the most amazing anaesthetic cream ensuring that you WON’T feel a thing!

NOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BEFORE AND AFTER PICS…Click on the link to the Taryn Laine Clinic facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Taryn-Laine-Clinic/198923250139742?sk=wall


Till next time
Take care
Carol-Ann

The truth about the cosmetics industry.

Yes..I admit..I can be a marketing sucker at times......but seriously...those mascara adverts wherein the models are obviously wearing false eyelashes are starting to irritate me. Which got me to thinking.....why was I irritated by them when the truth of the matter is that the beauty industry is not regulated at all......this means that THEY CAN MAKE ANY CLAIMS THEY WANT....98 per cent of women notice a drastic reduction in wrinkles after only 6 weeks...we’ve all read the ads......and wondered if we too could not look like the heavily airbrushed model staring back at us from the pages of that magazine if we bought the product and used it for 6 weeks.!!! Here is the truth about the cosmetics industry.

The FDA DOES NOT REGULATE THE COSMETICS INDUSTRY.
The FDA’s own Web site explains its limitations:
“FDA's legal authority over cosmetics is different from other products regulated by the agency .... Cosmetic products and ingredients are not subject to FDA premarket approval authority, with the exception of colour additives.”

Then there’s the CIR!! The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), the industry's SELF POLICING safety panel, falls far short of compensating for the lack of FDA oversight. According to its Web site, the CIR "thoroughly reviews and assesses the safety of ingredients used in cosmetics in an open, unbiased, and expert manner, and publishes the results in the peer-reviewed scientific literature." Yeah right!!!
BASICALLY THIS LEAVES US POOR CONSUMERS UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE.
Wikipedia states that....Cosmetics companies have been criticised for making pseudoscientific claims about their products which are misleading or unsupported by scientific evidence.
We have to do our homework......we cannot believe everything we read on those labels!

There is a vast difference between an over-the-counter product and a medical cosmeceutical skin care range that can only be prescribed by a skin care professional. Generally, an over-the-counter product does not contain high performing active ingredients, therefore the dramatic results to which they lay claim, are unachievable.

Cosmeceutical ranges have the scientific testing and medical backing to prove that the ingredients therein deliver on their promises.

It is so easy to be taken in by air-brushed models and enticing claims of instantly more youthful skin. If you really want to take good care of your skin ask a skin care professional for advice.