Cosmetic doctor takes us behind the scenes of the latest beauty trend

Nov 28, 2009 14:41 GMT  ·  By
Dr. Darren McKeown is a Cosmetic Doctor. His practice is on Harley Street, London, UK.
2 photos
   Dr. Darren McKeown is a Cosmetic Doctor. His practice is on Harley Street, London, UK.

Not very long ago, cosmetic doctors and surgeons put up a united front to warn of the dangers of buying do it yourself kits of Botox or other fillers off the Internet and then using them without having any experience or the proper qualification to do so. We live in an age in which, whether we like it or not, the pressure to look a certain way has become too strong to ignore, and they say this could also explain why such DIY kits, although extremely dangerous, are seeing a surge in popularity.

We strive to look “perfect” (whatever that might mean) and, because of this, the temptation of choosing one such kit over having the procedure done in a specialized clinic, by a trained professional, can hardly be resisted. There is, of course, also the question of price. In the long run, though, the risks are not worth it because injecting such substances (poisons after all) in the wrong place can lead to permanent disfiguration, so this is not only a case of “well, the worst that can happen is that I might not like it,” experts explain. Women need to understand that injecting Botox and fillers is a surgical procedure no matter how one looks at it, and not something as easy as getting a haircut.

To shed more light on the procedure itself, as well as on the dangers of using DIY kits off the Internet, we talked to Dr. Darren McKeown, Cosmetic Doctor. His practice is on Harley Street, London, UK, and you can see some of the amazing results he’s had so far here, on his official website.

Softpedia: Not long ago, specialists, including yourself, started ringing the alarm on the dangers of buying and then using, without any professional supervision whatsoever, Botox kits off the Internet. How do you explain the soaring popularity of such offers and to what extent do you think this has to do with people becoming more and more accustomed to the idea of such cosmetic treatments?

Dr. McKeown: The past decade has borne witness to something we have never really seen before in medicine: the rise of a drug to cult brand status. What was once perceived as a serious medical procedure with risks associated with it has been rebranded by the media as a treatment no more unusual than a trip to the hairdresser. With the systematic trivialization of the treatment people seem to have forgotten the risk of side effects and complications and Botox injections are now seen as being just as desirable as the latest designer handbag and just like designer handbags, those who can’t afford the full price are willing to turn to the Internet for a cut price option. The problem here is that not only is it against the law, it could be very harmful to your health.

Softpedia: Speaking of being well familiar with Botox and other fillers that are being used today in the treatment of wrinkles and loss of volume with age, please be so kind as to explain for our readers how these work – when administered by a specialist in a dedicated facility. What are the risks such procedures entail? How about the side-effects and their frequency? Is the so-called “wax / frozen face” a given after a while with Botox? Does it lead to “addiction,” as they say? From your own personal experience, what is the worst that can happen with these procedures?

Dr. McKeown: We used to think that the face aged purely as a result of gravity causing the tissues to sag. We now realize the ageing process is more complicated than that and many of the signs of ageing, particularly at the earlier stages, are due to a loss of volume from the face. Successful facial rejuvenation therefore requires volume replacement but the volume needs to be replaced in the right amount at the right places and deciding on these variables is where the real artistry is involved. Over-doing it or placing the volume in the wrong place can create a very odd appearance.

There are risks associated with cosmetic procedures and it is important that anyone considering treatment fully understands them. Most of the side effects are quite minor and transient such as bruising and swelling but there are a few more serious things that can happen such as infections, granulomas and even skin necrosis. That is why it is so important to make sure the person carrying out your treatment is a qualified doctor who is not only able to carry out an injection but also manage all of the potential things that can, and sometimes do, go wrong.

I don’t think anyone ever sets out to become addicted to cosmetic procedures. What seems to happen is after a while they forget what they used to look like and think the effects have worn off and they want more treatment. This is why it is essential to take photographs before you start so you can look back and demonstrate the improvements and convince them that they don’t need any more yet.

The ‘frozen look’ that you sometimes see when people have had Botox is a big concern to most people thinking about having the treatment. The natural sequence of events that follows a Botox treatment is an initial reduction in muscle activity, which is associated with an improvement in lines and wrinkles. Some months later, the muscle activity starts to increase again although the return of muscle function is not inextricably linked with the return of the lines and wrinkles.

It can take several more weeks or months before the lines start to come back and it is only when the lines come back you should have another treatment. If you repeat the treatment too soon you will encourage muscle atrophy, which causes further volume loss from the face and ultimately defeats the purpose of the treatment by making the patient look older. An important part of the doctors job is to sometimes say ‘no’ and most good doctors will do that although there is always the odd person who won't which not only reflects badly on the individual but on the whole profession.

Softpedia: Back to the possibility of purchasing do-it-yourself kits of this type online, what would you tell a woman thinking of buying one? Is the difference in price enough of a reason to have one take such risks and administer these substances without having either the foundation or the experience for it? What is the worst that can happen? Do the side-effects go away in time or are women running the risk of being facially deformed for life?

Dr. McKeown: I think the perception among the people who are using these kits is ‘Oh well, the worst that can happen is I won’t like the look of it – but it will wear off in a couple of months and I will be back to normal.’ That is not the case and there actually some serious risks. The drug which is being supplied in these kits is not Botox made by Allergan but a counterfeit brand being sold as something that sounds like Botox. You have no idea how or where this stuff is being made, what standardization procedures are in place, what conditions it is being made under or what contaminants may be in the product.

There was a case a couple of years ago where a plastic surgeon in Florida used a form of botulinum toxin which had been made in a laboratory and not designed for cosmetic use. He injected himself, his girlfriend and two patients. All four of them ended up on a ventilator in intensive care. When you are buying counterfeit drugs this is the very serious level of risk that you open yourself up to. It is also worth mentioning that in the United States there have been 16 deaths linked to the use of Botox. In these cases, very high doses were being used for reconstructive purposes rather than cosmetic purposes but when you are dealing with the unknown in the world of counterfeit drugs this is the level risk you are undertaking.

Softpedia: Since financial considerations are primarily behind some women’s decision to turn to DIY kits, could you please compare the cost of a professional treatment to that of one we can do ourselves, in the privacy of our home nonetheless? What about the value we get for money in each case?

Dr. McKeown: I don’t think you can compare the cost of a doctor treatment with a DIY kit from the Internet because they are not the same thing and you are not comparing like with like. A professional treatment with an approved drug will cost about £250, which you will need to repeat 2 or 3 times per year, so a total of £500 - £750 per year. When you consider you are dealing with your face and indeed your health, I think it is a reasonable price worth paying.

Softpedia: On a final note, a few words on the other uses of Botox: we’ve been hearing lately that experts in clinics are working on having Botox approved for breast and even posterior mild lifts. How would you describe the future in terms of Botox use for other areas of the body than the face (risks, benefits, costs)?

Dr. McKeown: I think you need to be very careful with these ‘new’ techniques. Using Botox to lift the breasts involves injecting the toxin into the pectoralis major muscle which sits behind the breast on the chest wall. Sagging breasts however are caused by the effects of gravity on the skin and breast tissue, not the tone of the pectoralis muscle. It therefore seems illogical to me that you would want to reduce the tone of the pec major by injecting Botox into it. If anything, I would expect that to make the breast sag even more. What you also have to remember is that pec major is a large functionally important muscle and you are sacrificing that function for what, at best, is going to be a very modest change in breast contour.

It may well be that in years to come there is good scientific data to show that injecting Botox in other parts of the body is safe and effective but until that time I would advise people to stay away. The best advice is to stick treatments which have been tried and tested and remember, nothing is worth more than your health.

Thanks go out to Dr. McKeown for making this possible. For those interested in finding out more about getting Botox injections in London, as well as other beauty treatments, here is where you can contact him.

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Dr. Darren McKeown is a Cosmetic Doctor. His practice is on Harley Street, London, UK.
Botox and fillers work wonders if administered by a trained professional
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