Has anybody seen Madonna lately? As if her emaciating figure wasn't enough, we bet if you sat close enough to the stage at one of her concerts, you could probably bounce a quarter off her new cheek implants- which by the way look larger than Pamela Anderson's... er, implants. In this day and age, we are going to have to succumb to the fact most people are more silicon than actual flesh and bone. But how safe and cost effective are even the simple procedures like Botox?
Let's face it, we all know at least one person who's gotten Botox. Actually, we probably know several. With Botox growing to one of the most popular procedures, average, middle-class women are now able to look and feel younger without signing up for an episode of "Dr. 90210." Botox, which is basically a neurotoxin that prevents select groups of muscles in your face from contracting, was a drug first administered to patients who suffered from muscle spasms.
Botox costs about $250-$500 a session and lasts about six months. So, for a mere $1,000 a year, eternal beauty can be preserved on your face momentarily. But cost isn't the only concern; because we don't know the long-term effects of Botox, we can't know exactly how safe it is. In addition, there are several other risks, including an allergic reaction, permanent paralysis, and the risk of improper injection.
Regardless, doing your homework is probably the best way to find out if Botox is right for you. Consulting several doctors, researching the side-effects, and finding out the pros and cons may mean the difference between eternal beauty and aging gracefully.
-Contributed by Alicia Butler
