BellaSugar

Botox's Newest Competitor Could Be Much Cheaper

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:05:35 PST

Botox is incredibly popular, but although Botox is a bargain in comparison to other injectables or traditional plastic surgery, it still carries a pretty hefty price tag - at least $10 a unit, with most people requiring between 20 and 40 units every four or six months to "erase" their wrinkles. This year, though, the FDA has approved another botulinum toxin, Xeomin. It's very similar to Botox, but one small factor could make it much cheaper.

Xeomin is a version of botulinum toxin that has already been available to doctors for years. It helps stop muscle spasms, so it's become a common treatment for people who have chronic neck or eyelid twitching. It's similar to Botox in effectiveness, lasting time, and safety. Where it differs however, is in storage and preparation. Xeomin could start a price war simply because it's powdered and doesn't need to be refrigerated. Botox and previously approved alternative Dysport are both liquids that must be refrigerated at all times, so shipping and storing them isn't easy. Xeomin, on the other hand, can sit on shelves for years and is simple to mix into saline for injection. And Xeomin's creator, Merz Pharmaceuticals, just lowered its price by 20 percent, making it even more competitive. It's a lot less effort and expense for providers, and the hope is that they'll pass the savings along to consumers.

Dr. Anthony Youn Talks Botox Cream and Common Cosmetic Surgery Misconceptions

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:42:00 PDT

You may know Dr. Anthony Youn as the cutie-pie doctor on the Rachael Ray Show and Dr. 90210, but he's also the author of the funny, touching memoir In Stitches. But most of all, he's a board certified cosmetic surgeon with a flourishing Michigan practice. We recently spoke with Dr. Youn about the no-needle Botox that's in FDA trials, why "bargain" procedures aren't actually great deals and lots more. The doctor is in, so just keep reading.

Botox Users Perceived to Be Colder, More Vain

Jaime Richards — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:30:28 PDT

It turns out, women who use Botox are perceived to be more cold and vain than those who use other types of anti-aging methods such as wrinkle creams, staying out of the sun, and face-lifts.

That's at least according to the results of a recent study by the University of Toronto, where participants were given information about women's anti-aging choices, and then asked to make judgments based around the data.

The results also concluded that women who chose to age in a more natural way were viewed more positively than those who tended to go to extreme measures to look young.

And in a reverse twist of fate, another recent Botox study found that those who actually had the injectable are less able to read other people's emotions. So it seems like Botox really can mess with the head on both ends of the spectrum.

Want to Look Young Forever? Here's What It Might Cost

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 03:00:02 PDT

When it comes to the pursuit of beauty, women in the US put a disproportionate emphasis on looking young. It's far less expensive (and often more attractive) to simply age gracefully and take care of yourself. But just as a thought experiment, we wanted to see just how much you'd spend over a lifetime if you were to try and look 25 forever. We did the math, so to find out, just keep reading.

Botox Mom Loses Custody, Might Not Be Who She Claims: A Timeline of Events - Updated!

Jaime Richards — Mon, 16 May 2011 16:55:00 PDT

For the past few weeks, the Internet has been abuzz with stories of the so-called Botox mom - aka Kerry Campbell, the San Francisco mother who claims to be injecting her 8-year-old daughter, Britney Campbell, with Botox.

We first heard of the Campbells in March, and while some of the details have remained a little sketchy since then, it turns out as the San Francisco Chronicle discovered, Kerry might not even be who she says she is, with ABC News reporting that Britney (if that's even her name) has been taken away from her mom. To see a timeline of events, just keep reading.

Freezing Wrinkles May Be the New Botox Alternative

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:23:34 PDT

Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon Dr. Francis Palmer is betting that there's a market for people who want the effects of Botox without using botulism. Specifically, the company he works for, MyoScience, has developed a machine that uses cold to freeze facial nerves. The device, which uses a series of small needles called "cryoprobes" to freeze muscles' nerves into relaxing, is currently in clinical trials and may soon be looking for approval in Europe.

To me, the procedure sounds not unlike receiving Botox injections, insofar as there are lots of little needle jabs involved and the mechanism of wrinkle relaxation involves disabling nerves for a few months. If this technique gets FDA approval sometime soon, would you try it rather than getting Botox? Or are you content to age naturally?

Is This Child Botox Story a Hoax?

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:10:04 PDT

Recently, I saw this terrible article about a mom who is supposedly injecting her 8-year-old with Botox and giving her "virgin" waxes. Internet denizens are up in arms about it, understandably, and the story is showing up all over the place. Before we all call the Child Welfare Office, though, there are several things about this story that don't seem quite right. I did a little research, so to see why I have my suspicions, just keep reading.

Woman Allegedly Gets Botox in Prison

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:35:00 PST

Sandra Avila Beltran may be awaiting trial in Mexico for her alleged drug cartel involvement, but apparently that doesn't mean she's willing to give up her Botox. Sandra, who is known for her beauty, supposedly had a doctor come in under the auspices of giving her an electrocardiogram. However, she allegedly received Botox instead.

Of all the things you could sneak into a prison, I doubt that Botox would be on most people's top priority lists. Sandra's expected to be interviewed over the next few days for further details, but no word on what the punishment will be if she's found guilty of this beauty crime.

In Tennessee, Dentists Want to Inject Botox

Annie Tomlin — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:17:49 PST

This week, Tennessee becomes the latest state to allow some oral surgeons to perform Botox injections. Right now, they're doing so to alleviate pain for patients who suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), but some dentists are seeking a license to use Botox overall. They argue that dentists are already skilled with facial injections and that being properly licensed could allow them to help patients with noncosmetic needs. Opponents point out that Botox is not FDA-approved for the treatment of TMJ and that some dentists could then start treating patients' wrinkles, too. Do you think dentists should be able to use Botox?

Gwyneth's Mom: We've All Fooled Around With Botox

Jaime Richards — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:15:49 PST

After recently appearing at her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony looking particularly youthful, some have speculated that Gwyneth Paltrow has had a little work done. While nothing's been confirmed, perhaps it's Gwyneth's mom, Blythe Danner, who's spilled the beans.

"Well, I think we've all fooled around with it [Botox]," Blythe told UsMagazine.com, adding, "I won't go into detail, but we all need a little help from our friends!"

While some stars are a bit more shy about revealing the truth about whether they've dabbled with the injection, it's refreshing to see Blythe's honesty on the topic. What do you think about stars revealing their Botox use? Do you care either way if they've been jabbed, or is it really none of our business?