Nursing Essay, Beauty treatment or Disaster?

Nursing Essay, Beauty treatment or Disaster?

Botox, a beauty treatment or Disaster?

Botox, a beauty trend to make you look younger and perfect. Have you considered trying this out? Everyone craves for perfection, perfect looks, perfect figure and perfect appearance. Why are we not happy with how we look? Why are we so quick to compare ourselves with the media-oriented unreal image of beauty? Even our smartphones have cameras with built-in filters and a range of effects which are used to make us look more beautiful with fuller lips and flawless skin. We are frequently influenced by social media, TV and celebrities as this is a way for us to look up to. Many of us are willing to do anything to get a celebrity look. However, we need to be aware of the consequences before we attempt to do anything to follow the race of how to get a perfect look. Botox is known as a way of enhancing beauty. An injection is being inserted into the skin with a desire for a beautiful result. Many people make this decision but tend to ignore the aftermath.

READ: Nursing Essay Addiction: The Affects of Incarceration Without Treatment

Botox injections are one of the most popular cosmetic trends all around the world. They can enhance your appearance without the need for surgical procedures. Botox itself is a purified toxin produced by the bacteria, Clostridium Botulinum. This bacterium is commonly associated with food poisoning. Only a tiny amount of this purified toxin is used in Botox injection for beautification purpose. Botox injections block the nerve signals to the facial muscles, as a result, facial muscles become relaxed and smooth out lines and wrinkle to give you a fresh and younger look.  People also use Dermal Filler injections to increase the volume and appearance of their lips and cheeks to have a fuller look. This is not a permanent solution; the treatment lasts for only 3-4 months. But be warned; once you start, you are bound to be “hooked!”  Enhancing and improving your appearance can become very addictive.

Once considered as the beauty secret of rich celebrities, now Botox is readily available on the UK high street. The cost of Botox injections can range from £99 to £350 for each treatment depending upon the selected clinic. The non- surgical cosmetic industry is booming in the UK and is reported to be worth over £3.6 billion in 2015 and is expected to be risen by leaps and bounds in recent years.

Although Botox is a non-surgical, relatively safe treatment but it involves a medical procedure of needle injections that penetrate the skin to a certain depth. Therefore, it should be undertaken by qualified, medically trained professionals to ensure that you are getting the correct amount in the right area of your skin under the safe medical conditions. Botox should not be used as “casual beauty treatment”. The British Association of Aesthetic and Plastic surgeons have stated that Botox should not be considered as simple as eyebrow threading and waxing. Spokesmen Gerard Lambe had also stated that “All kinds of risk can arise from the injection and serious procedure requires an experienced and qualified health professional.” Surgeons are trying to give out a warning about the risks of Botox. It can lead to infections, drooping facial features caused by paralysed facial muscles, breathing difficulties and even impaired vision when injected in the proximity of eyes.

In the UK, there are around 100,000 Botox injections are administered every year. Commonly beauticians provide Botox by simply fixing an appointment. This is not the best option for a perfect result as they do not have proper qualification and medical training. They do not have access to the medical history of their clients to know about underlying health issues. Also, it is not advisable to get it done when you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as we are unaware of what effect it could have on the baby. Botox injections for beauty treatments are readily available on the high street and administered by non-medical professionals could pose a serious risk if not carried out correctly. In 2018, 934 complaints were reported about non-surgical beauty treatments. It preceded a Parliamentary debate earlier this year raising concerns over increased risks. British Association of Dermatologists has also agreed for strict regulations for non-surgical beauty treatments. Doctors are emphasising that Botox should be considered as medicines and can only be prescribed and administered by medically trained staff. The Government has also launched a campaign to make people aware of risks associated with cosmetic procedures and provide them with information to make informed decisions based on the given facts.

18-year-old, Nicole Sander chose cosmetic enhancement because of peer pressure, “I wanted to prevent getting wrinkles. A lot of my friends do it and they see great results.” she stated. That’s the latest trend in youngsters. Nowadays many young people have been considering Botox as a solution for a desirably perfect look. Many youngsters assume that cosmetic procedures will improve their appearance, and this will resolve all their life problems. They completely ignore the fact that the disappointing outcome of these procedures will impact their emotional wellbeing. Marie, 35. She had Botox without seeing a medical professional: “I thought I was looking a bit old and haggard. So, I looked into getting myself some Botox. There was a really good deal online. But after I had it, I looked like I’d had a stroke. I couldn’t pronounce my p’s, b’s… and every time I took a drink out of a cup it was just pouring out the side of my mouth.” Marie had to live with these side effects until the Botox effects wore off. The risks associated with the Botox procedure was not fully explained to her by untrained staff. Rachael Knappier, 29-years old from Leicestershire, was given the treatment by a beautician at her friend’s house at a Botox Party. Her friend had hired a beautician to provide the Botox injection which cost Rachael’s lips swelled so badly that she had to rush for medical treatment to fix the problem. She did not leave her house for more than a week because of her dramatic lip swelling as a result of lip filler being “incorrectly administered.” She realised that she had made a mistake by allowing someone in her friend’s living room who was unqualified and medically un-trained to inject Botox in her skin.  After the incident, she decided to raise awareness about the consequences she had to face because of Botox. She has taken the responsibility to alert people about the risks of Botox administration done by non-medically qualified people.

Would you trust anyone? The choice is yours; anyone could provide you with cosmetic treatment. Sadly, in the UK aesthetic industry, there is an increasing number of unethical suppliers who are offering replicated unregulated or diluted products of Botox which are then administered by unqualified staff. This seems to be a cheap option for the treatment but poses a serious threat to your health. Nowadays many beauticians are providing Botox without having any proper training. They are using misleading language like “you will feel nicer” or “you will look good” instead of using more accurate language to describe the changes they will go through by explaining the effects associated with the treatment. Also, patients should be informed that Botox is more preventative than restorative. The active ingredient in Botox relaxes facial muscles to prevent them from contracting in ways that deepen lines and wrinkles.  “Botox is not an iron,” says medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatologist Dr Estee Williams MD which will clear out all the lines and wrinkles from your face. You have to start taking doses of Botox at an early age to have its best preventive effects. It is not a magic potion which will fix everything in a jiffy. Botox treatment is temporary. It lasts for only3-4 months, so you have to come back for treatment again and again. The process can be highly addictive with the temptation to adjust and improve your appearance. Also keeping this in mind that too much Botox can give you expressionless frozen look by stopping your facial muscles to respond to your nerve signals.

The Botox trend has become so popular that many people even celebrities host Botox Parties to share their experiences with their friends. The risks of Botox administration by the unqualified workers involves the danger of facial muscles to become paralysed, still, people following the trend to look perfect without thinking of the consequences are alarming. Teens have been negatively influenced by this airbrushed altered image of perfection to hide every flaw. This new vogue is affecting their self-esteem. Many youngsters believe that cosmetic treatment will fix their physical looks and emotional problems. Millions of pounds and countless hours are spent to hide the wrinkles in the middle-aged people who are not ready to accept that ageing is an inevitable fact of life and should be embraced gracefully. Nobody should feel inclined to change their appearance to live up to the false standard of beauty created by media. Every single person is unique which makes them special. Love yourself and be happy with the beauty you hold naturally. Botox is a way to persuade people to look more beautiful. This needs to stop. We need to work for the development of strict clinical guidelines on the use of Botox and better education on the risks linked with it.

Botox, a beauty trend or Disaster?

Botox, a beauty treatment to make you look younger and perfect. Have you considered trying this out? Everyone craves for perfection, perfect looks, perfect figure and perfect appearance. Why are we not happy with how we look? Why are we so quick to compare ourselves with the media-oriented unreal image of beauty? Even our smartphones have cameras with built-in filters and a range of effects which are used to make us look more beautiful with fuller lips and flawless skin. Social media, TV and celebrities frequently influence us as this is a way for us to look up. Many of us are willing to do anything to get a celebrity look. However, we need to be aware of the consequences before we attempt to do anything to get a perfect look. Botox is known as a way of enhancing beauty. Botox injections are inserted into the skin with a desire for the beautiful results. Many people make this decision but tend to ignore the aftermath.

One of the most popular cosmetic trends all around the world is Botox injections. They can enhance your beauty without the need for surgical procedures. Botox itself is a purified toxin produced by the bacteria, Clostridium Botulinum. This bacterium is commonly associated with food poisoning. Only a small amount of this purified toxin is used in Botox injections for beautification purpose. Botox injections relax the muscles in your face by blocking the nerve signals and smooth out lines and wrinkle to give you a fresh and younger look.  People also use Dermal Filler injections to increase the volume and appearance of their lips and cheeks to have a fuller look. Botox is not a permanent solution; the treatment lasts for only 3-4 months. However, be warned; once you start, you are bound to be “hooked.” Enhancing and improving your appearance can become very addictive.

Once considered as the beauty secret of wealthy celebrities, now Botox is readily available on the UK high street. The cost of Botox injections can range from £99 to £350 for each treatment depending upon the selected clinic. The non-surgical cosmetic industry is booming in the UK and is reported to be worth over £3.6 billion in 2015, and it is expected to be risen by leaps and bounds in recent years.

Although Botox is a non-surgical, relatively safe treatment, but it involves a medical procedure of needle injections that penetrate the skin to a certain depth. Therefore, it should be undertaken by qualified, medically trained professionals to ensure that you are getting the correct amount in the right area of your skin under the safe medical conditions. Botox should not be used as “casual beauty treatment”. The British Association of Aesthetic and Plastic surgeons have stated that Botox should not be considered as simple as eyebrow threading and waxing. Spokesmen Gerard Lambe had also stated that “All kinds of risk can arise from the injection and serious procedure requires an experienced and qualified health professional.” (Surgeon’s warning over Botox website, 2018, para.10). Surgeons are trying to give out a warning about the risks of Botox. It may lead to infections, drooping facial features caused by paralysed facial muscles, breathing difficulties and even impaired vision when injected in the proximity of eyes.

In the UK, there are around 100,000 Botox injections are administered every year. Botox injections for beauty treatments are at ready access on the high street. Commonly beauticians provide Botox by simply fixing an appointment. Botox injections could pose a severe risk to your health if administered by non-medical professionals and if not carried out correctly. Beauticians are not medically qualified and do not have access to the medical history of their clients to know about underlying health issues. Also, it is not advisable to get it done when you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as we are unaware of what effect it could have on the baby. In 2018, 934 complaints were reported about non-surgical beauty treatments. It preceded a Parliamentary debate earlier this year raising concerns over increased risks. British Association of Dermatologists has also agreed for strict regulations for non-surgical beauty treatments. Doctors are emphasising that Botox should be considered as medicines and can only be prescribed and administered by medically trained staff. The Government has also launched a campaign to make people aware of the risks associated with non-cosmetic procedures and provide them with the information to make informed decisions based on the given facts.

18-year-old, Nicole Sander chose cosmetic enhancement as a result of peer pressure. “I wanted to prevent getting wrinkles. A lot of my friends do it, and they see great results” (Golodryga and Ennis, 2010, para.7) she stated. That’s the latest trend in youngsters. Nowadays many young people have been considering Botox as a solution for a desirably perfect look. They assume that cosmetic procedures will improve their appearance, and this will resolve all their life problems. They completely ignore the fact that the disappointing outcome of these procedures will impact their emotional wellbeing. 35 years old, Marie had Botox injections without any medical consultation. “I thought I was looking a bit old and haggard. So, I looked into getting myself some Botox. There was a really good deal online. But after I had it, I looked like I’d had a stroke. I couldn’t pronounce my p’s, b’s… and every time I took a drink out of a cup, it was just pouring out the side of my mouth” (Stallard, 2018, para. 11) she described her experience. Marie had to live with these side effects until the Botox effects wore off. The risks associated with the Botox procedure was not fully explained to her by untrained staff. 29 years old, Rachael Knappier, from Leicestershire, was given the treatment by a beautician at her friend’s house in a Botox Party. Her friend had hired a beautician to provide the Botox injection, which cost Rachael’s lips swelled so badly that she had to rush for medical treatment to fix the problem. She did not leave her house for more than a week because of her dramatic lip swelling as a result of lip filler being “incorrectly administered.” (Botox party mishap website, 2018). She realised that she had made a mistake by allowing someone in her friend’s living room who was unqualified and medically un-trained to inject Botox in her skin.  After the incident, she decided to raise awareness about the risks of Botox administration done by non-medically qualified people.

Would you trust anyone? The choice is yours; anyone could provide you with cosmetic treatment. Sadly, in the UK aesthetic industry, there is an increasing number of unethical suppliers who are offering replicated unregulated or diluted products of Botox, which are then administered by unqualified staff. This seems to be a cheap option for the treatment but poses a serious threat to your health. Many beauticians are providing Botox without having any proper training. They are using misleading language like “you will feel nicer” or “you will look good” instead of using more accurate language to describe the changes they will go through by explaining the effects associated with the treatment. Also, patients should be informed that Botox is more preventative than restorative. The active ingredient in Botox relaxes facial muscles to prevent them from contracting in ways that deepen lines and wrinkles. “Botox is not an iron,” (Sarah Garone, 2019, para. 11) says surgical dermatologist Dr Estee Williams MD, which will clear out all the lines and wrinkles from your face. You have to start taking doses of Botox at an early age to have its best preventive effects. Botox treatment is temporary. It lasts for only 3-4 months, so you have to come back for treatment again and again. The process can be highly addictive with the temptation to adjust and improve your appearance. Also keeping this in mind that too much Botox can give you expressionless frozen look by stopping your facial muscles from responding to your nerve signals.

The Botox trend has become so popular that many people, even celebrities, host Botox Parties to share their experiences with their friends. The risks of Botox administration by the unqualified workers involve the danger of facial muscles to become paralysed; still, people following the trend to look perfect without thinking of the consequences. Teens have been negatively influenced by this airbrushed altered image of perfection to hide every flaw. This new vogue is affecting their self-esteem. Many youngsters believe that cosmetic treatment will fix their physical looks and emotional problems. Millions of pounds and countless hours are spent to hide  wrinkles in the middle-aged people who are not ready to accept that ageing is an inevitable fact of life and should be embraced gracefully. Nobody should feel inclined to change their appearance to live up to the false standard of beauty created by media. Every single person is unique, which makes them special. Love yourself and be happy with the beauty you hold naturally. Botox is a way to persuade people to look more beautiful. This simulated tendency needs to stop. We need to work for the development of strict clinical guidelines on the use of Botox and better education on the risks linked with it.

References

• BBC. (2018). Botox party mishap left woman housebound. BBC News Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-46434480 [Accessed 7 Jul. 2019].
• BBC. (2018). Surgeons warn over Botox on High Street. BBC News. Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-45195477 [Accessed 6 Jul. 2019].
• Davies, A. (2019). Since when did getting cosmetic surgery become the norm?. Glamourmagazine. Available: https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/the-rise-of-cosmetic-surgery [Accessed 8 Jul. 2019].
• Golodryga, B. and Ennis, D. (2010) Botox: New Trend for Teenage Girls. Good Morning America. Available: https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/BeautySecrets/botox-trend-teen-girls/story?id=11393081[Date Accessed 7th July 2019].
• Garone, S. (2019). 7 Facts I Wish I Had Known Before Getting Botox. Healthline. Available: https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/botox-facts [Accessed 7 Jul. 2019].
• Marsh, S. (2019). Plastic surgeons call for tougher UK rules on dermal fillers. the Guardian. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/29/plastic-surgeons-call-for-tougher-uk-rules-on-dermal-fillers [Accessed 7 Jul. 2019].
• Medication, P. (2019). What Is BOTOX® Cosmetic? | BOTOX® Cosmetic. Available: https://www.botoxcosmetic.com/women/what-is-botox-cosmetic [Accessed 5 Jul. 2019].
• NHS. (2019). Cosmetic procedures – Botox injections. NHS. UK Available: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cosmetic-procedures/botox-injections [Accessed 17 Jul. 2019].
• Save Face. (2019). Laws and Regulations for the Non-Surgical Cosmetic Industry. Save Face. Available: https://www.saveface.co.uk/laws-regulations-non-surgical-cosmetic-industry/ [Accessed 6 Jul. 2019].
• Stallard, J. (2018). Botox Bust: How some doctors are breaking the rules. BBC Three. Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/184e6102-5cc9-4148-9528-a349804e3e1b [Accessed 7 Jul. 2019].

Nursing Essay, Beauty treatment or Disaster?