According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), Botox injections have been the most common non-surgical procedure performed by plastic surgeons since the year 2000. In 2010, more than 2.4 million individuals in the U.S. received Botox injections.
But while Botox is commonly used to treat crow's feet, laugh lines and other wrinkles, it may also have other non-cosmetic benefits.

In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Botox to treat migraine headaches. According to WebMD, the FDA suggests Botox when used to treat chronic migraines be given at intervals of about 12 weeks as multiple injections around the head and neck to try to dull future headache symptoms.

The drug, which is a form of botulinium toxin type A, is also used to treat more than 20 other conditions, including muscle spasms and excessive sweating. Scientists are currently testing Botox's efficacy in treating conditions such as asthma.
 Experts say Botox often provides positive cosmetic results with few side effects. However, its effects are not permanent and injections need to be repeated every three to six months for the best results.

There are ways that individuals can ensure the best outcome when using Botox for cosmetic reasons, according to WebMD. The health website recommends those planning on getting Botox injections avoid bruising by abstaining from taking aspirin or ibuprofen, which can thin the blood, for two weeks prior to treatment. Most importantly, those who want the best possible outcome are advised to seek out a physician that is board-certified in dermatology or plastic surgery.

While there are several options available when it comes to injectable treatments, experts recommend speaking with your physician to discuss your areas of concern, and to hear the options they suggest before making a decision.  The Greenwich Medical Spa is the leading provider of BOTOX in Fairfield County.

If you have been considering this procedure, visit our Greenwich BOTOX page for more information.

Prevention's January cover story features Kristin Chenoweth, on newsstands this week. This cover is particularly timely as Kristin will be hosting and performing at the American Country Music Awards on Monday, December 5, on FOX.

On if she's had plastic surgery and why she's happy to talk about it:

No, no work.  But I get Botox regularly, and I'm very happy to talk about why.  When I was thirty-five, I was having debilitating migraines about once a week.  I went to my doctor in New York, and she said she wanted to give me five shots of Botox across my eyebrows.  And I said, 'Oh, no. I make my living through my facial expressions.' And she said, 'You're not going to have a living if you can't work.' So I let her do it, and I haven't had a full-blown headache since.  Every six months, five shots right here [motions across her eyebrows].  I'm thankful for it.

On not being on Glee this season:

I'm sad, because I love April Rhodes and so does the audience.  It just goes to show that people love a good drunk, I guess! 

For more information about BOTOX, visit our Greenwich BOTOX page. The Greenwich Medical Spa is the top provider of BOTOX in Stamford County.

Whole Article >

If you've lost weight recently, you may have noticed that you have loose skin hanging around. Whether it's flaps under your arms, or a hanging pouch around your stomach, loose skin can be an embarrassing issue. In this article you'll learn why skin gets loose, how to tighten it after fat loss and which medical procedures, nutrition tactics and exercises will actually help keep your skin tight.

Why Skin Gets Loose
Skin is an elastic living tissue that stretches as we move and grow (or shrink). It's not one big piece of rubber that covers your body, but an actual organ. And just like all the other organs in your body, it is made of cells.

The cells on the outer part of your skin are constantly being lost and replaced with new cells, but the skin cells under that outer layer are more permanent. These lower layers of the skin are made up of connective tissues, fibers, blood vessels and all sorts of components that can stretch or contract -- depending on how you treat them.
When you lose weight (and especially when you lose weight quickly) the elastic parts of your skin don't have time to adapt to your new shape. If you are older, have poor nutrition, aren't hydrated, have excessive sun exposure or smoke, this problem is aggravated even more, since all of these things contribute to decreased elasticity.

How to Tighten Loose Skin
As you lose weight and loose skin begins to appear, don't panic! Your skin will slowly return to a shape that fits your new body. But that process can take up to two years, so here are steps you can take to make your skin tighten faster:

#1: Don't Lose Weight Too Quickly
Crash diets and excessive amounts of time spent exercising can rapidly shed both muscle and fat, and result in a greater amount of loose skin. Aim for no more than 1-2 pounds of fat loss per week, and include weight training so you build muscle to help stretch the skin.

#2: Hydrate
Water is a crucial component of maintaining skin elasticity. From both food and drink, you should be taking in at least two liters of water each day.

#3: Eat
Two ingredients that keep skin plump and elastic are collagen and elastin, and the protein to help form these is found in cottage cheese, milk, legumes, tofu, beans, seeds, nuts and fish. The oils in these foods will also help with skin elasticity.

#4: Care for Your Skin
Avoid harsh detergents like sulfates in soaps, shampoos and dishwashing liquids. Limit sun exposure, stay away from tanning booths, and limit exposure to hot and chlorinated water, since all of these elements decrease elasticity.

Do You Need Surgery?
Skin can only be stretched so far before it loses some of its innate ability to snap back. If you've had a 9-month pregnancy, then you can tighten your loose skin. In contrast, if you've carried 50-100 extra pounds on your body for a long time, you might need to resort to plastic surgery and stapling to tighten loose skin.

As mentioned earlier, elasticity of your skin will naturally decrease with age. Although you have control over the rate of your weight loss, staying properly hydrated, eating the right foods and caring for your skin, you simply have no control over your age! So rather than letting age stress you out, you should focus on the things over which you do have control -- like exercising and eating right -- and you'll find that you always look better than your peers. And feel great!

Ben Greenfield is a fitness and triathlon expert and host of the Get-Fit Guy podcast on the Quick and Dirty Tips network. His book, "Get-Fit Guy's Guide to Achieving Your Ideal Body -- A Workout Plan for Your Unique Shape," will be published by St. Martin's Press in May 2012.  Original Article >