Botox has earned a reputation for being a miracle... and it is. But is real or fake?

The FDA just released a statement warning patients that unlicensed Botox is being shipped by suppliers owned by a pharmacy called Canada Drugs. Some practices save money on the real deal wrinkle fighter by shipping in Canadian botox. Since there are issues with Botox regulation the FDA is alerting doctors about “unapproved medications, including unapproved version of Botox.” The agency even listed the doctors’ names and locations of those practices who may have purchased unlicensed Botox.

According to the ASPS, over 5.5 million people were injected with Botox last year, making it the most popular cosmetic treatment in America. At an average cost ranging from $200 to $600 per treatment, Botox is now making cosmetic surgery more and more affordable. However, some people try to make a further profit on botox by using products which are not authenticate.

Well then what is REAL Botox?

There are several companies which distribute botulinum toxin for injections for the face.  Allergan is the company that distributes the most Botox Cosmetic in the United States. Botox Cosmetic is also known under chemical name OnabotulinumtoxinA and is produced from the botulinum toxin which will freeze or paralyze facial muscles to reduce wrinkles. All Botox produced by Allergan is distributed in secure packaging and all the bottles have a 3D hologram on the label. However, sophisticated knock offs have been produced that mimic the packaging so closely that a normal person would not be able to tell the difference just by viewing the labels.

You should find your doctor or practice on the official website for Botox: www.botoxcosmetic.com. For example, Dr. Shah purchases his Botox straight from Allergan and has a premiere partnership with them. If your physician who injects you with botulinum toxin is not on the website, ask them why they are not listed and where they purchase it from.  You may not like the answer--

While there are other botulinum toxin products that are on the market that are somewhat similar to Botox, they are not generally the source of stories about “fake Botox” that appear in the news. These alternatives are Dysport and Xeomin. Both of these Chicago injectables are produced by reputable pharmaceutical companies. Highly regarded physicians often use these products in their office to reduce wrinkles and will advertise them under the correct name brand and not misrepresent them as Botox.

How to avoid getting “fake” Botox?

As a general rule, it is always good to see the bottle or the container from which someone is injecting you. However, selecting a physician who is shown on a company's website is another way to help determine this.

Botox is an excellent product to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and even help prevent wrinkles while the drug is active.  The results will often last for 4 to 6 months at a time to provide a younger look and when injected with authenticate botox, may provide a highly favorable safety profile.

Once a year, we have that Hallmark holiday that is dedicated to that special “someone” in your life. Not saying that long-stem roses aren’t wonderful, along with chocolates and a romantic dinner. Those are all greatclassic Valentine's Day gifts! Why not give a gift that lasts a little longer than a week?There is a special promotion during February only that Dr. Shah's is proud to announce!

A Radiesse dermal filler wrinkle treatment. Buy 1 Get 1 Free.
The benefit of this promotion is that you can be creative. I am getting some filler and would like for you to join me.  This promotion is specific and specially designed for Dr. Shah's office from the manufacturer, Merz.  Radiesse is a filler which can make a face look younger in the office in 15 minutes. You can literally soften lines and add volume to your face quickly, safely and effectively. Radiesse can last a long time, usually more than a year.

Any laser hair removal treatment for $100!
Nothing says I love you like lasering your back for your significant other. Whether it’s your legs or that underarm hair you hate, come in for a painless hair removal treatment. Keep in mind that most laser hair treatments require a series so start now to be hairless by summer.

We also have gift certificates available. So, if you have something in mind for you or your loved one and aren’t sure really what they would like, just give them a beauty gift card instead!

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When we get down to the nitty-gritty, who wants to be hairy scary?NOT me and obviously not you; none of us do! The options for hair removal can be endless but finding the one that works best for you and your budget can be a bit challenging. Some of our options include razors, over-the-counter hair removal products, waxing and lasers. So, what is a girl to use when it comes to the least amount of pain, cost, and hair regrowth?

Let’s face it, we’ve all shaved and waxed our legs, underarms and bikini area for years, and although today’s razors and over-the-counter hair removal products can be great, we still have to deal with the side effectslike nicks, cuts, bleeding, razor burn, rashes and those infamous ingrown hairs, medically referred to as folliculitis.

So, let’s talk lasers. To give you some background, laser hair removal began about 20 years ago when it was experimentally used and tested. In 1997, the FDA approved certain lasers for hair removal. Laser hair removal works through a process called photothermolysis or SPTL.This proven procedure selectively targets dark pigmentation or melanin, which is what gives our skin and hair its color and darkness; it is also the area of hair growth. Lasers heat the hair follicle and not the skin. In addition, they deliver a specific wavelength of light and pulse duration where the light is absorbed by the dark areas/hair follicles on our skin.

Laser hair removal has been proven to significantly reduce or remove hair long-term or permanently. A lot of men and women use laser hair removal to get baby-smooth skin and there’s no worry about scraggly hairs sticking out in the wrong places at the wrong time. The good news is that it’s also less painful and causes less skin irritation when compared to waxing. Yes, there can be side effects like itching, redness and swelling, but if you’re a chicken to the waxing, like me, then this option is a winner!

I know you’re wondering how much laser hair removal will set you back. Well, if you think about the cost of waxing, plus the number of times you have to go to the salon month after month, year after year, it can add up. So why not just spend a little more money for something that really is worth it?

Yes, laser hair removal can cost more upfront, but over the long run, it can actually save you money, time and there’s less pain. Who wouldn’t want baby-smooth, hairless skin that you don’t have to shave or wax – or deal with any of the mishaps that can happen. It’s so freeing to wake up knowing you can throw on your shorts and tank top without worrying about scary, hairy, scraggly stubble. I mean ladies you never know when you could run into the man of your dreams-- and I’m sure hairy legs isn’t a great first impression. Come in for a laser hair removal treatment and you’ll never have to worry about hair again!

More Americans undergo plastic surgery than people in any other country in the world.

But when countries' populations are taken into account, five other nations have more cosmetic surgeries per capita than the U.S., according to data from Trend Monitor and graphed by The Economist.

The top 7 countries with the most plastic surgeries are:
1. South Korea
2. Greece
3. Italy
4. Brazil
5. Columbia
6. United States
7. Taiwan

Americans spend more a year in the cosmetic industry than they ever will on their education. Why?

1. There is a lot of money to be made in beauty, now more than ever.
Every month, there seems to be a new product on the market promising youth for older women and glamour for younger women. Every magazine has a huge beauty section because the advertisers are willing to pay big bucks for huge glossy ads about eyeshadow or lipstick. And it's no wonder beauty is a big business: it doesn't cost a lot of money to produce a small tub of cream (Creme de La Mer costs upwards of $100) but women won’t think twice before swiping their credit cards to buy it.

2. The anti-aging industry is growing at a furious rate.
Ten years ago you had only Oil of Olay promising to erase fine lines and wrinkles. Now you have microdermabrasion products, Retinoids (think Retin-A, which isn't just for acne anymore), antioxidants and peels. On top of this, you have a whole list of new minor cosmetic procedures that women are trying as early as age 20. These fillers (think Botox and Restylane) offer women a simpler, less costly option to look younger. They are becoming so mainstream, women in Dallas are getting them done in the mall of all places!

3. On a lighter note, a 'less is more' trend that I hope takes off.
It started with an article in a magazine about how the French are so much more casual than Americans with their makeup and we all know French women are so very sophisticated. This unleashed a few 'Beauty secrets from the French articles'. Then the New York Times writer Alex Kuczynski wrote a book that got a ton of recent buzz about how she became obsessed with cosmetic surgery and has opted to now go au naturel. Perhaps this new trend is a result of the number 1 and 2 trends I outlined above. We'll see if it has any sort of affect. I'm somewhat doubtful it will. But on the streets of New York, you don't see a lot of bright lipstick and heavily lined eyes. I can't speak for anywhere else, however. But since New York is the trendsetter of American beauty and culture, we'll see where that takes us.

4. The celebrity factor...in advertising.
Over the past five years or so, celebrities have become spokesmodels for beauty products, unseating the 'Supermodels' of the late 80's, early 90's. This reflects a general trend in advertising, I think, where celebrities have pitched all sorts of products from watches to foundation. They don't wear a ton of makeup when stalked by paparazzi, I've noticed, but they sure make a ton of money pitching it for ad agencies.