Comments on: A Little Jab Will Do Ya

By: Lysergic Asset

Lysergic Asset — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:49:31 +0000

The U.S. may be pushing Botox, but Canada knows the potential hazards of Botox, and they are pretty serious (1-14-09 article):

Botox Safety Label Updated for Serious Side Effects, Health Canada Said

http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/4545

By: Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:57:58 +0000

Yeah, acne can be pretty brutal, especially as it typically strikes when one’s self esteem is the most impressionable – in adolescence.

Acne is a legitimate problem – wrinkles are something natural that occurs over time.

Also, I’ve always thought that people who have their faces botoxed are kinda creepy looking – no matter how much you piss them off, their foreheads never move!

By: swedishfishing

swedishfishing — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:42:31 +0000

ICK. I would be willing to bet is has nothing whatsoever to do with the Botox itself and a whole lot to do with the questionnaires (I assume the patients were fully aware what they were intending to measure, based on the questions) and the incredibly quick recovery time and appearance of results for Botox compared to the other procedures studied. And did they measure depression/anxiety before the procedures for both sets of patients? And then factor out the placebo effect of having a cosmetic procedure after healing for both groups of patients? Ugh, I hate this kind of crappy science journalism.

The reason this gets to me so much: I’ve gotten chronic migraines since I was about 8. For 2 years when I was in high school, I got Botox injections as a treatment. 15 of them all around my head, including the forehead where it’s injected cosmetically. It sucked. It did not make me happy. Anecdotal and all, sure, but I still think this study (and/or the reporting on it) is crap.

By: CloudsInMyCoffee

CloudsInMyCoffee — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:27:24 +0000

@BeckySharper: Yea, I definitely feel better about myself when my skin looks good. But then I just find other things to worry/complain/nitpick about. Yay, womanhood!

But there’s a difference between Accutane, a legitimate drug, and a completely unnecessary injection of chemicals into your face. So maybe these women are equating so much of their happiness on their looks… maybe they’re the cast of Real Housewives of Orange County?

By: BeckySharper

BeckySharper — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:28:18 +0000

@ Clouds: Hey, sending love backatcha!

Yep, definitely a case of ZOMG, I won’t be happy until I look the way I “should.”

That said, I do know kids from high school who had hideous acne and were pretty severely depressed. When Accutane cleared their skin, the depression improved significantly. I would never have said they shouldn’t have taken the drug. Our emotions are so tied to how we feel about ourselves and others reactions to us and the teen years are the worst in that regard.

By: sarah.of.a.lesser.god

sarah.of.a.lesser.god — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:06:54 +0000

@Becky: If I keep reading about studies like these, I will definitely have a lot of the frowny-lines.

@Clouds: Welcome!

By: CloudsInMyCoffee

CloudsInMyCoffee — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:43:11 +0000

@Becky Sharper: Maybe those ladies are “self-reporting happiness” because they focus a lot of energy on what they are supposed to be like. And a lady should never complain.

(also — my first time commenting! I have huge crushes on all the Harpies.)

By: BeckySharper

BeckySharper — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:55:31 +0000

What’s sad is those ladies are probably self-reporting happiness b/c they’re happy their wrinkles are gone.

I’ll stick with puppies. Although I suspect I’m going to get those frowny-lines between my eyebrows one of these years. And probably sooner than I’d like.

By: Pilgrim Soul

Pilgrim Soul — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:45:08 +0000

What if I ingest the Botox? WILL THAT MAKE ME HAPPIER???

By: sarah.of.a.lesser.god

sarah.of.a.lesser.god — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:35:38 +0000

Personally, I prefer things such as puppies to botulism. Anyone with me on that?