Botox blog posts and news

Buying Botox From A Canadian Pharmacy - Who's Doing It?

Search Google for Botox information and you're very likely to run across ads promising heavy discounts on self-administered Botox injections.

Most sites appear under web addresses using keywords like Canada+pharmacy, clearly suggesting that buying Botox from Canada will help you skirt regulations in the US that prevent the sale of Botox direct to consumers.

Misleading marketing

Our staff examined a few of these sites (and blocked the advertisers from appearing on RealSelf.com's Google ad placements), after seeing clear signs of misleading marketing as well as learning from our doctors that buying Botox online without a prescription is dangerous and potentially lethal.

Botox sellers that actively promote using Google Adwords program include:

• discountmedspa.com
• canadadrugpharmacy.com
• CanadaPharmacyOnline.com
• CanadianPharmacyMeds.com
• pretique.com
• CanadaDrugCenter.com
• AxonMedicalSupplies.com
• NorthWestPharmacy.com

One of these sellers, called pretique.com is largely representative of what you can find at these sites. Confusing information, manipulative page descriptions, and FAQs suggesting self-injecting drugs is easy and low risk. 

» Read more

Claim Check: Botox Can Cure Migraine Headaches Too!

The Claim: Botox injections can help "correct" migraine headaches by targeting their trigger.

The Background: RealSelf experts have actually been asked about this for a while, but a just-released study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), says that 57 percent of the patients who were treated with a surgical procedure similar to a forehead lift (and prepared for the surgery with Botox) reported "complete elimination" of their migraine symptoms a year later. And 83 percent of the surgery patients experienced a 50 percent reduction in symptoms after the year.

» Read more

4 Ways Dysport Could Be Better Than Botox

Dysport, the latest injectable wrinkle treatment, has finally arrived as the first true competitor to Botox. And already the RealSelf community is finding out from our docs just how Dysport might amount to serious competition to Botox.

It's still early in Dysport's run -- very early, we should stress -- but here's what we've been hearing from medical experts about what Dysport could do better than Botox.

1. Dysport could act faster. 

Botox typically takes 3-7 days to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles and lines. According to the doctors on RealSelf, Dysport could start to show its effect in as little as a day. Atlanta plastic surgeon Dr. Carmen Kavali, who has administered Dysport injections, has observed results "as early as 1-2 days after treatment."

2. Dysport could last longer.

In most studies, Dysport is lasting about 3-4 months, about the same as Botox. But, as our medical experts point out, some studies in Europe show Dysport might last even longer than Botox. It hasn't been out long enough here to know yet -- but you can be sure RealSelfers and docs will share their experiences with the community.

» Read more

RealBuzz (And We Do Mean Buzz): Is Botox OK For, Like, Stoners?

As you know, RealSelf's doctors give you all their wisdom when you want and need it. And sometimes they even flex their comedic muscles, especially when they're asked, as user Praying Anon did recently,

Can I get Botox if I'm a heavy pot smoker? 

The good news for Tommy Chong: Our docs say there's no reason a bong and Botox won't mix, though, as Dr. Christopher Hess of Fairfax, Va., puts it, "You need to be free of all THC prior to consenting to Botox treatment." Dr. William Rosenblatt of Manhattan is even more, well, blunt about it, asking, "Medically there is no reason you could not have Botox, but if you are stoned all the time why would you care?"

But the truly high-larious response comes from L.A.'s Dr. Michael Persky, who advises, "Just make sure that your injector is not sharing your pipe/bong with you. The munchies will help keep you from losing volume in your face, which should help keep you looking younger. Be well and pass the Oreos."

» Read more

Botox Passing Rebates Onto Consumers, Rolls Out Limited Time $50 To $100 Back

Ever noticed a doctor advertise they're a Botox "platinum plus" or "diamond" provider? This distinction has nothing to do with Botox skills, and everything to do with buying and selling Botox to consumers.

Doctors achieve status with Allergan by getting points for every Botox vial they purchase. The levels range from "silver" all the way up to diamond.  Rumors are Allergan is working on a super premium category for their ultra-important practices.

Besides a framed certificate and bragging rights, high Botox volume medical practices also get benefits like doctor finder listings on the Botox Cosmetic website, media training and support, as well as a lab coats that say Botox, Botulinum Toxin Type A.

Botox rebates to the doctor

The incentive most important to medical practices are rebates. We've been told some offices can receive up to 9% rebates (annually) plus 10 to 15 "bonus" vials per quarter.  That is, they get a check back from Allergan as well as free Botox that can be then marked up to regular prices. For the wrinkle filler Juvederm the rebate checks can be even more generous. Our sources tell us the rebate can be as high as 20%, and 1 free box (2 syringes are in each Juvederm box) for every 5 purchased from Allergan.

» Read more

What Doctors Pay For Botox: Historical Botox Pricing

Prior to the slowing economy and rise of new competition (i.e. Dysport), Allergan has exercised incredible pricing power with Botox. 

Based on data furnished to RealSelf, from 1998 to 2008 Allergan price increases for Botox exceeded the rate of inflation 9 out of 11 years.

Since 1997, the cost of Botox moved up $190 to $525 per vial, or 57%.  If Botox prices were only adjusted with inflation, the same vial would price out at $447.  The price per unit (paid by the doctor) has climbed from $3.35 to $5.25. Botox vials hold 100 units.

Here's a table showing the historical cost of Botox to doctors (most doctors markup about 2X):

» Read more

Dysport Leads To Wedding Bliss -- First Review In!

Dysport -- the long-awaited Botox competitor -- has started shipping to docs, and RealSelf's first member review has arrived!

Jen629 tells the RS community that she "wanted to look natural but good" for her August wedding -- and so she took the leap a week ago.

She says it's "similar to Botox" but had her first no-movement moment the very first day after treatment.

We know you've tried Dysport -- and want to hear from you!

More on RealSelf

• There's plenty of buzz about Dysport on our Q&A pages.
• What's in a name? The challenge of branding Dysport
• Dysport vs. Botox: the doctors explain the difference

» Read more

Botox For Job Seekers, And Other Beauty And Skincare News

RealSelf's roundup of the latest skincare and beauty news in the trades and papers:

1. Looking for work? Try a little nip, a little tuck.

Yes, the job market is brutal, we know. So some Miami docs are doing their part to get people back on their horse -- in Dr. Jason Shapiro's case, by giving away 50 free procedures to needy job-seekers. Coral Gables derm Dr. Fredric Brandt says his out-of-work consider the cost "an investment" -- and 75 percent of plastic surgeons say they've treated patients who say they want work to get ahead in the workplace. [Miami Herald]

2. Gastric bypass offers hope to keep diabetes at bay.

A new study from the American Diabetes Association says over half of Type 2 diabetes patients (177 in all) who were "very obese" were diabetes-free eight years after having gastric-bypass surgery. Docs caution that the positive effects don't always last, and patients should have the procedure done early in the course of their disease. [NYTimes]

» Read more

VH1 Diva Prancer Gets Stabbed Over And Over (with Botox)

Only the strongest and bravest plastic surgeon could get the normally irrepressible Prancer of VH1's "I Love Money 2" to actually shut up for him ... and let him jab her with a Botox needle, repeatedly.

In this video from FOX 2 in Detroit, Prancer (real name: Mercedes Clausen) gets her excessive sweating problem fixed by Dr. Anthony Youn -- and we must say, for a woman who gets paid to be a histrionic trainwreck, Prancer actually handles the sharp end of a syringe pretty well. 

» Read more

Could Botox Really Cure Baldness?

Curing baldness is just about the Holy Grail of the cosmetic universe -- and now Botox is the latest magic bullet, says a Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon. But this story is getting a mysteriously slender amount of play here in the US.

Dr. Simon Ourian says he's been testing Botox on his patients for three years, reports the UK's Telegraph, starting when he gave his mother injections for migraine headaches after chemo, which also made her hair fall out. When Dr. Ourian discovered the Botox was helping her hair grow back, he began trying out the technique on other patients.

"With my patients these Botox vitamin injections for baldness have been very safe and more effective than anything I have seen before," says Dr. Ourian. He has yet to publish a scientific study proving his findings.

Huge news, right? Oddly, it's been the foreign press picking up the story -- but barely a peep from US media, even though the original release went out back in February.

Have any of you tried Botox for hair loss with any success? Any doctors want to chime in on their own experiences?

» Read more