This morning in the St. Louis Post Dispatch, an article was published highlighting “Botox and wine parties,” an increasingly popular trend among women wishing to look younger. Women gather at a spa and bring their friends, drink wine, and get in line for discounted injections.
While this may seem like a fun idea, there are many safety and ethical considerations to think about when Botox is involved. Botox (and other facial injections) should always be performed by someone with expert knowledge of facial anatomy–which are typically board-certified plastic surgeons, board-certified facial plastic surgeons, board-certified dermatologists, or trained nurses who work under board-certified doctors. Receiving injections from physicians not in these specialties may not be advisable.
In addition to the experience of the injector, when choosing an environment to get Botox, you also need to think about the ethics of the physicians involved. Both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) agree that combining alcohol and medical procedures is unethical. Remember, Botox is more than merely a product. Botox injections are medical procedures. As such, anyone being treated should not be under the influence of alcohol.
Botox is a safe way to relax facial lines, but it needs to be performed by skilled hands in the proper environment.
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