The Feng Shui of Botox

The ‘Feng Shui’ of Botox

Let’s face facts, you’ve heard all about the do’s and don’ts of Botox. You’ve seen it all on your favorite and not so favorite ‘celebs’. You’ve seen them at the mall, in line at the market, at the gym or late night TV. They appear to smile, yet nothing moves, it’s unnatural and that upper face is oh….sooo…….frozen. So what’s the real Truth about this seemingly simple procedure?

The worst case scenario is droopy eyelids, uneven brows, and the scary ‘Joker’ face with no sign of life. What’s the deal with these mask-like features of a horror movie character, expressionless, who can’t squint or frown or do anything the rest of us folks do on a normal day? It’s the typical buzz in medical journals about the botched up Botox applications. So how does a good batch of pure protein from the makers of Allergan get such a bad rap? They not only market the stuff, but give certified application courses to their doctors and nurses who learn how to inject the stuff properly. Believe it or not, this stuff has been around for 20 years. So it’s not such a risk to inject bacterium, derived from the toxin botulism, for cosmetic purposes. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 4 million Botox injections were performed in 2006 for approximately a million men and women. This is a great alternative to the more extreme ‘nip tuck,’ and minimally invasive, to diminish the appearance of wrinkles especially around the brow and frown lines.

But Botox is so popular right now, and in the wrong hands it can be administered by non-aesthetically trained medical professionals from gynecologists, to family practitioners who are not SPECIALISTS. As a professionally trained fine artist, I have studied anatomy and the network of facial muscles just to be able to draw it on paper. I am not a doctor, but I understand the aesthetic necessity of being a specialist in order to create the proper ‘look’. The problem is that non-specialists, who are doing this procedure, in malls and medi-spas, may not have intimate knowledge of facial anatomy. This is complicated by the discovery that Botox diffuses throughout the muscles surrounding the injection point. Basically, this means that shooting Botox into someone’s face without the proper understanding can create havoc……and the patient ends up with a face-freeze, a’ la Jack Nicholson as the Joker.

Finding a good specialist is also important. If someone understands the ‘Art of Placement’ as in the ‘Feng Shui’ of Botox, then you will be in good hands. I have found a highly experienced Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Marc M. Kerner, who is certified by the American Board of Facial, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He is the medical director of Dermatique, ‘The Medical Center for Advanced Skincare, Inc.’ The minute I walked into the office in Encino, I knew I was in good hands. His professional demeanor and comforting bedside manner was the first impression for me. He is a quick study and was able to whip out the needle complete the shots without even the sense of a pinprick. In the past, I’ve had to get numbing cream, wait for ever and still felt the headache after. His method is painless and the old adage, “You’ve got to suffer to be beautiful’ is a no-no. No suffering here! Dr. Kerner is not a stranger to the media as an expert and is interviewed often. Check out his site, www.dermatiqueskincare.com/media.html for a variety of online interviews. He has a series of very informative sound bites from network TV shows to assist you in your search for the right procedure. He is so well versed in anything to do with the face, from wrinkles to anti-aging, as well as innovative uses of injectables to other parts of the body (easing the heartbreak of high heels with a shot of Sculptura).You can check out his other site, www.drmarckernermd.com for all of his procedures. He is one of the most highly rated plastic surgeons, with a degree from USC Med School! He was named the 2004 winner of the Daily News Health Beat award for best ENT Physician and Surgeon in the valley! And most importantly, he’s board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery as well as the American Board of Otolayringology, Head and Neck Surgery. Why go to an aesthetician when you’ve got the real deal? He is the medical director of Dermatique Medical Center for Advanced Skin Care®. Dr. Kerner specializes in facial plastic surgery, minimally invasive cosmetic surgery of the face, and sinus and nasal reconstructive surgery. He has a few conveniently located offices to choose from Beverly Hills to the valley. Check out www.youtube.com/user/drmarckernermd