BOTOX IS NOT A FILLER FIND OUT HOW IT REALLY WORKS
Almost everyone these days knows what Botox is — but far fewer people understand what it does. It’s a common misconception that Botox is a cosmetic filler that plumps up skin and smooths wrinkles. In truth, Botox reduces the appearance of facial lines by stopping specific muscles from contracting. Botox is the brand name of botulinum neurotoxin, an injection used to treat various medical and cosmetic conditions around the face and body. It can treat excessive sweating, muscle spasms around the eyes, and in a small percentage of people, help their migraines. However, Botox is most commonly used to reduce crow’s feet, vertical lines between the eyebrows, and forehead lines by relaxing the muscles that cause the facial wrinkles. In order to understand how Botox works, you must first understand how our muscles usually function. Your brain sends a signal down a motor nerve to tell a muscle to contract. At the end of the nerve there are nerve terminals that contain numerous synaptic vesicles, which store a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. Neurotransmitters take a “message” from one cell in the body and delivers it to another. Normally, a SNARE protein, inside the nerve terminal “escorts” the synaptic vesicle to the outer membrane of the terminal and helps it to release the stored acetylcholine. Since the nerve terminal is positioned just above the muscle fibers, acetylcholine can easily crosses the space, called a synaptic cleft, and trigger the muscle to contract. The acetylcholine binds to a specialized acetylcholine receptor on the muscle’s outer membrane, and through a lock and key type interaction, the muscle contracts.
After a Botox injection, the SNARE proteins in the nerve terminal are denatured and the synaptic vesicles have no escort. As a result, the corresponding muscle does not get the signal to contract and the fold in the skin does not occur. The nerve terminal will naturally start making new SNARE proteins, to replace the dysfunctional proteins, so after about three to four months, the Botox “wears off”.
Botox administered in a professional setting is very safe. Some patients experience mild side effects like swelling or redness, and very rarely, people can experience allergic reactions. Unfortunately, as with many medical treatments, Botox can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Anyone interested in trying the product should seek an experienced professional rather than attending a “home Botox party.” Using an experienced practitioner for Botox administration is not only a safety issue — it will likely help people see better results. Not all wrinkles are the same! Botox can be very effective on some lines and relatively useless on others. A practitioner can analyze the areas you want to improve and make appropriate recommendations. Sometimes, they might recommend a filler instead. Dr. Scott, at Eye Plastic Associates, has years of experience administering Botox in a clinical setting and helping patients achieve their desired improvement. If you have questions about Botox or cosmetic fillers, please call our office to schedule a personalized consultation.
Cherry Chia Greek Yogurt Bowls
Inspired by HungryHobby.net
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
Chia Seed Jam We suggest making the chia seed jam in advance and storing it in the refrigerator so you can quickly assemble these yogurt bowls all week. Using a potato masher, mash down the cherries. Place a small pot on high heat and add the cherries, chia seeds, honey, and water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn down the heat and let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Allow jam to cool before using or refrigerate. Greek Yogurt Bowls In a small serving bowl, mix the Greek yogurt with vanilla extract. Top the Greek yogurt with 2 tbsp cherry chia seed jam, hemp seeds, granola, and a few additional cherries, if desired.
Chia Seed Jam •
2 cups fresh sweet cherries, pitted 3 tbsp chia seeds
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2 tbsp honey 1/4 cup water
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Greek Yogurt Bowl •
1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
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1/2 tsp vanilla extract
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1 tsp hemp seeds
1 tbsp granola
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