A recent study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) compared the aging rates of identical twins. Because the participants compared were identical at birth, they are genetically programmed to shows signs of aging at the same rate. However, the twins who had gone through a divorce in the study looked an average of 2 years older than those who did not – highlighting how environmental factors, such as stress, can severely contribute to the development of wrinkles and other signs of aging. Researchers in the study also suspect that the continued use of antidepressants, that cause the muscle in your face to relax, can, over time, contribute to sagging in the face, making you look older than you might otherwise.

Luckily, there are easy and virtually painless ways to help reverse these signs of aging, no matter what your personal history. Click on the continued reading link to find out how!
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On June 17, 2009, many cosmetic practices started offering Dysport® as another alternative to its competition, the ever-popular Botox®. While the technical merits of both are almost identical, this seems as good a time as any to refresh all our curious patients about these products.

Both Dysport® and Botox® are muscle relaxants and wrinkle removers that use a purified form of botulinum toxin as their key ingredient. Dysport® has been FDA approved for frown lines/wrinkle removal and cervical dystonia (severe neck pain and abnormal head position) treatments. Since Botox® has been around longer, allowing for more research and testing, it is also approved for treating crossed eyes, eyelid spasms, and severe underarm sweating called hyperhydrosis.

Because of its many effective uses, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has ranked BOTOX® Cosmetic the most popular physician – administered aesthetic procedure in the United States for the fourth year in a row. This includes surgical and nonsurgical procedures combined. It will be interesting to see how the new Botox® competitor, Dysport®, will change these statistics…

Regardless of which product you choose, one of the most important things to consider when getting a Botox® or Dysport® injection is to have a skilled surgeon perform the treatment.
If you have any questions regarding Botox® or Dysport®, feel free to contact us.