At the Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex in Tehran, a randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 48 patients.  They were injected with either Botox or saline, the placebo.  Injection sites were customized for each patient’s anatomy.

When Botox injections were performed with anatomic measurements as a guide, they “significantly reduced pain at rest in patients with chronic refractory lateral epicondylitis.”  Due to the side effects, the treatment may not be appropriate for patients who require finger extension.

Read more from the Canadian Medical Association Journal

In this youtube video of an ABC News segment, Dr. Bruce Genter, a surgeon well known in Philadelphia is critical of acupuncture as a wrinkle treatment, citing the lack of scientific evidence for that purpose.

But when people claim that it works, are they seeing real results?  If so, is it a cost effective treatment method?

Julia Engstrom, who is featured in the video, says she has undergone Botox treatment and laser treatment in the past. She believes facial acupuncture has improved her skin texture and reduced her wrinkles. Nearing the end of 10 treatments, she says her improvements are a result of improved sleep and relaxation after acupuncture. “I’ve noticed that my skin is a lot smoother, [there’s] a lot less red pigment in there and the wrinkling seems to be a lot less,” Engstrom said.

Acupuncture, a process of strategic needle placement on the body, is said to bring improved health and well-being. In an article for Prevention magazine, licensed acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner Phyllis Olson asserts that acupuncture can indeed lessen the appearance of wrinkles. She attributes this to a core premise of acupuncture – that health is reliant upon the healthy flow of chi (energy) in the body, which can be disrupted for a myriad of reasons. Acupuncture treatments are believed to break up energy blockages that prevent optimal blood flow to certain places in the body, improving circulation.

Acupuncturist Beata Maslanka acknowledges that acupuncture doesn’t yield visible results that compare to Botox or other facial fillers, but claims that beauty actually comes from within; when internal imbalances are resolved, people look better overall. Olson agrees, noting that the treatments foster relaxation of facial muscles, thereby reducing wrinkles. “Aside from the light, momentary stings, acupuncture is really quite relaxing,” she adds.

The results Engstrom points to are hard to discern from the video, but one can wonder about the salutary effects of relaxation and optimism. Of course, people also have a tendency to see (and believe) what they want to see.

If acupuncture does produce any wrinkle-relaxing effects, how long can one expect them to last? NYC dermatologic surgeon Barney Kenet, MD tells Prevention: “If acupuncture relaxes the muscles, it might reduce wrinkling temporarily. As for the increased blood flow, at most it will probably give you a temporary rosy complexion–something you don’t want if you have an inflammatory condition such as acne or rosacea,” he warns. “Otherwise, cosmetic acupuncture is relatively harmless.”

Maybe it is harmless if you ignore the cost of acupuncture. The average price is about $60 to $100 per session, with 10 sessions recommended by Olson, followed by monthly maintenance procedures.

In contrast, the average Botox treatment in the US costs $472 and a single treatment will last 3-6 months. By comparison, this makes acupuncture wrinkle treatments appear costly as well as unproven. Dr. Genter, whose Philadelphia Botox patients offer proof of visible wrinkle reduction, says: ”If it increases your well-being that’s great, I just don’t know that it can make your face look younger.”

Have you considered BOTOX?

By now, you probably know that BOTOX is a highly diluted form of the botulinum toxin used to correct certain facial lines and wrinkles. FDA-approved in 2002, BOTOX injections may be the single most popular non-surgical procedure to reduce or eliminate facial lines, wrinkles and grooves.

Have wrinkles appeared out of nowhere?

Crow’s feet, lines and even deep grooves appear on our faces over the years, the result of our natural expressiveness, lifestyle habits, and the tendency to move our facial muscles in habitual ways. For instance, you may squint a lot (when you’re concentrating, when you’re worried, when the sun is bright, or when you are trying to focus your vision.) As the years go by, this repetitive motion begins to carve lines in your face and can eventually result in a permanent expression of worry or intense concentration.

On others, you might notice facial lines and wrinkles and wonder, “Why is she so angry?” or “Why is he so uptight and stressed?” You’re probably noticing that vertical line that runs down the center of the forehead: one of the most obvious facial flaws, in otherwise attractive men and women.

Why BOTOX?

BOTOX injections are a quick and cost-effective way to improve your looks. Performed by a highly experienced hand, the results are truly gratifying, softening the appearance of common lines and wrinkles:

• Around the eyes (crow’s feet)
• On the forehead (both vertical and horizontal lines and creases)
• Around the mouth (smile lines)

For days after BOTOX is administered, you will look in the mirror and continue to see increased improvement in your face as the treatment reaches its full effect. BOTOX requires only local anesthesia, if any at all. The procedure effectively blocks signals relayed between certain nerves and muscles, causing a temporary paralysis in specific facial muscles.

After Botox treatment, you’ll still be able to smile, frown, and make normal facial expressions. BOTOX generally lasts 4-6 months before it needs to be replenished. Over time, many of our patients notice that their facial wrinkles continue to diminish even when they have BOTOX treatments less often. It almost seems to “train” the muscles to be more relaxed, resulting in a more serene, pleasing image as time goes by.

You only have one face

A word of caution: You may have heard about “BOTOX parties,” where the treatment is administered to a group of women in someone’s home. We strongly recommend that you avoid this route. You only have one face. Don’t place it in the hands of someone whose knowledge of facial anatomy may be insufficient. Just because someone can inject BOTOX doesn’t mean he or she can do it properly or with an eye trained to give the best aesthetic result. A trained cosmetic surgeon will administer the treatment with your very own unique face taken into consideration. The only BOTOX party worth attending is the one done safely in our Owensboro, Kentucky office.

If you are between age 18 and 65, are not pregnant, nursing or living with a muscular disorder, you’re probably a good candidate. Talk to us about BOTOX and start the New Year on a brighter, more attractive note.

While Botox is commonly used – and FDA approved – to treat wrinkles on the face and forehead, a wide range of other treatment applications have been successfully used.  Doctors have used Botox to treat hyperhidrosis, migraine headaches, and muscle spasms.

Last year, the FDA announced that Botox complications had been linked to off-label use, particularly in children treated for limb spasticity.  According to current U.S. law, doctors are permitted to administer medicine for whatever application they deem appropriate.  Doctors aren’t however, allowed to market medicine for any application they please.

The marketing restrictions on Botox have apparently hindered the pharmaceutical company’s ability to distribute safety information related to off-label use.  The lawsuit is intended to increase the physician’s ability to access safety information such as possible risks, benefits, dosing, patient selection, etc. and is in no way intended to increase sales of Botox.

To get an advantage, many job seekers have turned to their hair stylist for a new look, or their local surgeon for Botox or Dysport wrinkle injections. When you have to compete with young adults just out of college, who often accept a much lower wage, you need to present yourself in the best possible light.

Men and women are using some of their extra time to get a little touchup, with injectables like Botox, a wrinkle filler, or even eyelid surgery. Botox is the most popular non- invasive cosmetic procedure in the U.S. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 5 million treatments were done last year. The cost of a single treatment will vary, and it pays to keep an eye out for monthly specials and events.

If you are going for treatments prior to a job interview, give yourself at least 7 days to heal from Botox and other injectables. Remember, doing well on an interview is not only about how you look, but whether you exude confidence about yourself and your ability to do the job.

The following statistics illustrate the opinions of the ‘typical’ patient. Who is the ‘typical’ patient?  “A married, working mother between 41-55 years of age with a household income of under $100,000.”

Roughly 70 percent of the respondents claimed that Botox and dermal fillers play an important role in their cosmetic routine.

When asked what their motivation was for pursuing Botox treatment, 34 percent said their appearance looked “stressed” or “angry”. Others said that a friend, family member, or their physician had recommended it, or they were preparing for a social event. 66 percent said they received Botox treatment 2-3 times per year. 72 percent of the respondents chose Botox to treat glabellar lines – the vertical lines that appear between your eyebrows.

When asked about their motivation to use hyaluronic acid fillers, the majority (63 percent) of patients reported a desire to remove facial wrinkles and folds – mostly the nasolabial folds that travel from the nose to each side of the mouth.

Nearly 70 percent of the respondents who had been treated with Botox also opted for dermal filler treatment.

A full summary of the results is available (in MS Word) here.

Although Medicis had planned to rebrand the product as ‘Reloxin’, they ultimately decided to retain its original European name, Dysport. (pronounced Diss-port).

Botox and Dysport both perform the same basic function – neuromuscular blocking to relax and prevent wrinkles. Dysport is said to be more diluted than Botox and perhaps, more cost effective for providers.

The April 30th announcement coincided with a 3 percent drop in Allergan’s (maker of Botox) shares, as Medicis shares jumped 14 percent. Analysts and industry professionals expect Dysport to carry a slightly lower price tag than Botox, and speculate that it may capture 30 percent of the market.