Are Botox parties a good idea?

A few months ago, I had written about a feature on getting Botox injections at 23. It was obvious from the comments left by my readers that not everyone agreed with Dr. Fred Weksberg's views on starting at such a young age.

In fact, a lot of readers condemned Dr. Weksberg, but the reality is that I spoke to four other dermatologists and plastic surgeons who all said the same thing: "Botox injections can start as soon as you start seeing some signs of aging you're not happy about."

In my personal opinion, 23 is far too young but since this is only my own point of view, I have to rely on what trained physicians say when presenting features like these. That said, I've been lucky enough to advance in age with little signs of aging due to good genes and a lifestyle that has helps me age well.

If you missed the controversy, you can read the original article here: Is 23 too young for Botox injections?

Botox parties?

When Botox was first introduced to the market in the 1990s, doctors would hold Botox parties at homes of patients who invited their friends and family members to experience its wrinkle-erasing power. They were all the rage a decade ago, and I was a bit surprised when I was watching a recent show that revealed Botox parties were still very trendy.

I know Health Canada has much stricter guidelines than the regulating body in the U.S. (the FDA) so things are a bit different in Canada. That said, you'd have to be living on the moon to have not heard of some bad incidences where people got injections that were not Botox or other similar catastrophic situations.  I could not help but wonder why in the world anyone would willingly participate in a Botox party without knowing the full credentials of the doctor administering the injections.

I think you'll be interested in reading Dr. Weksberg's views on Botox parties:

"Botox parties have been a hot topic on the minds of many dermatologists. This is a practice I do not endorse or encourage.

"Physicians who want to increase their patient /customer base may host a social gathering with Botox as the central theme. In most cases these parties are hosted by non-specialists (GPs) who are trying to increase their Botox business. These physicians may not be well-trained, and generally could be inexperienced. At these events, minimal information is given about Botox and then Botox is administered at a discounted price.

"What consumers need to understand is the only way to get proper professional treatment is in a dermatologist's office after a proper consultation. Botox can then be given in a controlled and safe manner through trained physicians. It's important that consumers seek a licenced, qualified aesthetic-specialty physician and insist on a consultation outlining the treatment and post-treatment information prior to receiving any medical cosmetic enhancement treatment.

"When administered by a qualified professional in an appropriate medical setting, the results from Botox cosmetic are natural-looking and lead to a more youthful, refreshed look."

A lot of these makeover shows make non-invasive cosmetic enhancement and cosmetic enhancement seem like nothing more than getting new makeup or getting a new hair colour, but the reality is there are risks and you can only minimize risks by being well-informed and by making sure you always carefully check the credentials of the doctor who has the power to make your face look better or worse!