Botox – Is it Plastic Surgery?

How many times have you heard someone saying “Oh I never had any plastic surgery, only Botox.”? I have heard many celebrities say this. They keep denying ever having going through any kind of cosmetic surgery only to later reveal all they went through were Botox injections. The interesting aspect about this is that many individuals actually do not consider Botox as plastic surgery. There are even those who criticize the plastic surgery industry all the time but would not mind having Botox treatments.

So the question is do you consider Botox to be plastic surgery or you feel it is something completely separate? Obviously Botox is extremely popular. As a matter of fact it is considered to be the most popular form of any kind of cosmetic surgery in the world. Not only does it dominate rankings for non surgical cosmetic procedures, it is overall the most performed cosmetic procedure whether surgical or non surgical. The United States and Canada alone account for millions of Botox procedures each year. Add the global figures to this and you may have tens of millions of Botox procedures being performed every year. It is also one of the cosmetic procedures which have similar numbers for both men and women so obviously it appeals to most people from around the world.

Those arguing that Botox is not a plastic surgery procedure say there are no incisions involved in it. It is only a matter of an injection which can be completed in a matter of minutes. You do not have to take time off from work or alter your daily schedule in any way. It is a simple activity where you go to the surgeon’s office and are out within minutes, back to your normal life.

While the above statements are true, they simply describe most non surgical cosmetic procedures. Also by that argument, aren’t all non surgical procedures not plastic surgery then? Non surgical procedures, even though they do not have incisions involved in them, they still fall under the plastic surgery industry. So the question arises how is Botox different from other non surgical cosmetic procedures?

Do you think the notion that Botox is not cosmetic surgery was started by celebrities and other socialites who want to reverse signs of ageing via cosmetic surgery but at the same time do not want to face up to the critics of the industry? Tell us what you think about Botox and whether or not it falls under plastic surgery according to you.

Possible Side Effects of Botox

Botox is by far the most popular form of cosmetic surgery procedure worldwide. In fact the number of Botox procedures alone is higher than those of Breast Augmentation and Liposuction put together. Considering both of those cosmetic procedures rank in the number 1 and 2 position respectively for surgical cosmetic surgery, you can imagine the number of individuals undergoing Botox each year.

While most people who opt for Botox regularly are quite happy with it, there are a few who do experience side effects or negative reactions to Botox. As a matter of fact, first time users must be aware of all the possible risks and complications that could arise due to Botox so that they do not panic in case something goes wrong.

Usually the possible risks of Botox are quite minor. This includes swelling, skin irritation, pain and a loss of sensation on the concerned facial features. These side effects are not considered as a danger to your health and start subsiding within a few days to a few weeks. However, some patients may experience continued headaches and nausea which must be looked into immediately. Even though many plastic surgeons feel the headaches as well as nausea are a passing phase, it is still better to consult an expert to ensure there is nothing serious about them.

Also Botox may react different depending upon the area where you were injected. Some individuals experience drooping eyelid while others feel they have lost temporary control over their facial features like lips etc. Recently several celebrities have also spoken about the negative side effects they experienced after a Botox injection. Award winning actress Dana Delany ended up with a hematoma and drooping of the right eye while socialite Kim Kardashian experienced swollen eyes which turned black as well.

Sometimes in rare cases, the Botox injections also hit a nerve on your face which could result in all sorts of complications – from minor ones to complications that could lead to more serious consequences. Botox related side effects usually wear off within a few days but in few cases can last for many months as well. Of course it should be noted that Botox is still the best way to get rid of unwanted wrinkles and the very fact that millions of Botox procedures are performed each year, should be an indication that most people find it safe. But it is always a good idea to find out about the risks of any kind of cosmetic surgery in order to be better prepared just in case you are one of the unlucky ones to experience any negative side effects.

Glee Star Gets Botox

Over the past few days there has been a lot of talk and heated debate over Glee star Charice Pempengco getting Botox. Now normally some celebrity or TV star getting Botox is not such big news anymore but this particular case has ended up being the most talked about Botox procedure for a long while now because the star in question is only 18 years of age. People all over US and Canada have started to ask, what makes someone so young get Botox or for that matter any kind of cosmetic plastic surgery which is usually meant for reversing the signs of ageing?

Of course from Charice Pempengco’s side, her representatives have vehemently denied any cosmetic enhancement angle to the Botox procedure. As per her rep, the procedure was done purely to relieve a jaw disorder which makes it extremely painful to move the jaw and at the same time painful to even eat and talk. Unfortunately for Charice who became a household name after her show Glee became one of the biggest hits in television recently, not many people are buying her side of the story. A lot of comments, discussions and messages posted in various websites feel the Botox procedure was all about looking your best as celebrities are always under pressure to appear their best.

It would be unfortunate if indeed someone so young and talented would feel the pressure of appearing her best, so much so that she opted for Botox which could be just a start to other cosmetic plastic surgery procedures as well. We all know that several celebrities have opted for plastic surgery in the past and will continue to do so in the future. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, the issue here is of age. Many feel this is the start of a trend where teenagers are also attracted by the appeal of a plastic surgery enhancement on their face or body.

Teenagers getting plastic surgery procedures already make a lot of people uncomfortable but what is even strange in this case is that Charice Pempengco is actually one of the gifted stars on television who not only has an incredible voice, but has excellent acting talents and at the same time has a face that makes her instantly likeable. If she got Botox for cosmetic reasons, then it would indeed be sad that younger stars still in their teens are feeling the pressure of stardom already.

Botox and Breast Augmentation Most Sought-After Plastic Surgery Procedures

A study into the recent plastic surgery trends in both USA and Canada has revealed some interesting statistics. Going by recent trends, it seems Botox and Breast Augmentation procedures have topped the list of the most in demand cosmetic plastic surgery procedures.

While Botox tops the list in non surgical procedures, Breast Augmentation comes out on top for surgical cosmetic procedures. Of course taking a closer look at the numbers of the past few years will show you that Liposuction is almost as popular as a Breast Augmentation and has occupied the top rank for most popular plastic surgery procedures several times in the past. Analysts believe Breast Augmentation has just gone past Liposuction and this could be a result of more and more women getting comfortable with the idea of cosmetic enhancements to get the look that they always desired.

When it comes to non surgical procedures, there is no competition at all. Botox remains the most in demand cosmetic enhancement request by far. The second most preferred by a distance seems to be laser hair removal when data for both men and women are combined. The number of Botox procedures completed in a year has started to run in the millions and is actually increasing at a rapid pace. Also most people who have opted for plastic surgery is more likely to admit to having a Botox procedure done on themselves than any other kind of cosmetic enhancement.

Studying the trends in cosmetic plastic surgery has been extremely interesting as they clearly reflect changing mindsets and acceptance of cosmetic surgery as a common as well as a normal procedure to get the appearance you want. Breast Augmentation as well as a Breast Lift procedure has grown significantly over the years and age does not seem to be a factor anymore as women of all ages are more open to breast enhancements via cosmetic plastic surgeries. Many feel it comes as no surprise that Breast Augmentation has turned out to be the most frequent plastic surgery request as several women are now quite open about their desire to get cosmetic enhancements on their body. Moreover with so many celebrities such as actresses, models, television personalities, socialites etc being open about breast implants, several of their fans or followers have accepted breast augmentation as a perfectly acceptable way to get the body they have always wanted.

Botox and Breast Augmentation are both expected to remain on top for non surgical and surgical procedures respectively for quite some time to come.