Columbia Home & Lifestyle - January/February 2009 - (Page 49) Many of the women who attended the evening’s discussion were intrigued by the potential results of Botox, but had concerns about safety. “I came in totally against Botox,” said Amy Voltmer, 38, a member of Girl Talk. “I was completely turned off at the thought of injecting botulism—a poison—into my body.” After the presentation Voltmer said, “I have to say, Dr. DeSpain gave a pretty convincing argument that a cosmetic treatment like Botox can be safe—provided you work with a professional.” The most dramatic moment of the evening came when DeSpain gave Botox injections to two members of the audience. One of the volunteers was a member of DeSpain’s staff who had received Botox before. The other woman was a longtime patient of DeSpain’s who had been thinking about Botox for a while, but had some reservations prior to that evening. The woman, 45, who prefers not to be identified, said she had always disliked the horizontal lines on her forehead, more a result of genetics than aging. “I’m scared that I won’t be able to make proper expressions if I have it done,” she said. “I’ve been scared, I guess, just not knowing what to expect.” She ultimately decided in favor of the procedure, and the crowd watched DeSpain administer the injections in a matter of minutes. The patient described the feeling as nothing more than a little stick. “It definitely hurt less than a flu shot,” she said. DeSpain said there are some side effects. Most commonly reported are injection site reaction or low-grade headache. There is no downtime: patients can return to work after having injections at lunch. The results of Botox are not fully seen for up to 10 days and will fade gradually in three to four months. Cost of the treatment is calculated per unit and, therefore, varies from patient to patient. For example, getting Botox injections in the temple area could cost between $140 to $180, but the cost is based on individual needs. click on this girl Talk www.gotogirltalk.com skintuition medical spa and despain dermatology www.columbiaderm.com columbia home & lifestyle 49 http://www.gotogirltalk.com http://www.columbiaderm.com
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