I’ve recently interviewed Laurie Casas, MD, ASERF’s (Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation) President and a plastic surgeon practicing in suburban Chicago.

I would like to share with you Dr. Laurie Casas’s insight and tips about injectable treatments like BOTOX Cosmetic & Juvederm, & her answer to this question: Why patients are no longer keeping their injectable treatments a secret?

Laurie Casas, MD, a plastic surgeon

Marta Walsh: Where does your passion for plastic surgery come from?
Dr. Laurie Casas: My passion for plastic surgery comes from a life long desire to make a difference in peoples’ lives and the opportunity to express myself artistically.

MW: Why patients are no longer keeping their injectable treatments a secret?
DR. LC: People know longer feel it is necessary to keep their injectable treatments a secret because these treatments are safe, reliable and affordable when performed by properly trained physicians.

MW: Why injectable treatments became so popular with so many patients men & women?
DR. LC: Injectable treatments are popular because they are safe and reliable and actually deliver predictable results which allow people to feel and look their best.

MW: Why is it easy to fall in love with Botox?
DR. LC: Like most injectable products, Botox Cosmetic delivers predictable, safe and affordable results when performed by properly trained physicians.

MW: How much injectable treatments hurt physically and our pockets? Can we really afford it?
DR. LC: Much like a hair cut or a new pair of shoes, most people budget for injectable treatments.

MW: Which other great facts or findings you would like to share with us about injectable treatments?
DR. LC: The key is to match your expectations and budget with the procedure that will safety and effectively deliver results by a qualified provider.

MW: How can we decide on which type of injectable treatments works best with our skin?
DR. LC: The best way to know what may or may not work for you is to discuss your objectives with a trained physician.

MW: What is the difference between BOTOX Cosmetic & Juvederm?
DR. LC: BOTOX Cosmetic is a neurotoxin that selectively paralyzes muscles that produce facial expressions that give us a sad, tired or an aged appearance. Fillers like Juvederm fill or lift lines or facial depressions that give us a more aged appearance.

MW: Is there any recovery time necessary after injectable treatments?
DR. LC: Not unless you have injection site bruising.

MW: Aside from injectable treatments which other skincare tips can you share with us?
DR. LC: It is important to hydrate your skin, protect yourself from direct sunlight and wind with sun block that blocks UVA and UVB rays, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet and rest.

MW: What are some your passions besides your work?
DR. LC: I like to spend time with my family and I enjoy sports like scuba diving and skiing.

I would like to thank Dr. Laurie Casas for interviewing with me for Talking Makeup. Visit her website to learn more about her: http://www.casas.md

For additional information and to find a physician in your area visit www.BotoxCosmetic.com  or www.Juvederm.com .

There are some interesting findings thanks to a survay by Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation (ASERF) about treatments with injectables. Talking Makeup would like to share with you some!

A recent survey from the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation (ASERF) found that respondents are no longer keeping their treatments with injectables a secret! In fact, the survey revealed that nine out of 10 patients discuss the use of treatment with their friends.

What’s more, nearly seven out of 10 received support from those they told. The perceived stigma – or the idea that these treatments are hush-hush or only for the rich and famous – seems to have been removed.

The survey also paints a picture of the “typical” patient, and it’s not who you may expect – she’s a married, working mother making less than six figures!

Who is the “typical” patient for treatments with injectables? Working, married female, with one to three children.

Those receiving injectable treatments are health-conscious (95 percent exercise; 78 percent follow healthy eating habits) showing that injectables complement a healthy lifestyle along with exercise and eating right.

Seven out of 10 believe injectable, non-surgical treatments are important parts of their aesthetic routine.

What’s the most popular filler? The most popular hyaluronic acid dermal filler was Juvéderm Ultra/Ultra Plus (61 percent)

Who are people telling about their treatments? Of the nearly nine out of 10 respondents (87 percent) who openly discuss their BOTOX Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin Type A) and/or hyaluronic acid dermal fillers (e.g., JUVÉDERM) treatments with others, most are likely to tell their close friends (65 percent) over immediate family and husbands (45 percent).

What kind of feedback do they get? Seven out of ten (70 percent) received support from the people they told while only one out of ten (12 percent) received criticism – demonstrating that aesthetic injectable treatments have continued to evolve into mainstream and accepted options for the everyday woman.

SURVEY REVEALS INJECTABLE PROCEDURES ARE MAINSTREAM AND ACCEPTED MEDICAL AESTHETIC TREATMENT OPTIONS

Survey Shows Majority of Respondents Openly Discuss Use of BOTOX Cosmetic and Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers

Despite what some may think, people aren’t hiding their use of BOTOX Cosmetic and hyaluronic acid dermal fillers. In fact, according to survey statistics released today by The Aesthetic Surgery Education & Research
Foundation (ASERF), the research arm of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), nearly nine out of 10 respondents (87 percent) openly discuss their BOTOX Cosmetic and hyaluronic acid dermal filler treatments with others, with seven out of ten (70 percent) receiving support from the people they told.

“In a similar survey issued four years ago, we dispelled the myth that Hollywood and corporate wives were the typical BOTOX Cosmetic patient,” says ASERF President Laurie Casas, MD, a plastic surgeon practicing in suburban Chicago. “Now, demographic and perception data trends show us that aesthetic injectable treatments have continued to evolve into mainstream and accepted options for the everyday woman.”

Survey results found that the typical aesthetic injectable patient is a married, working mother between 41-55 years of age with a household income of under $100,000. The survey also found that women receiving aesthetic injectable treatments are healthconscious and philanthropy minded, with the majority incorporating exercise (95 percent) and healthy eating habits (78 percent) into their lives, and many volunteering with charitable organizations that matter to them (32 percent). In addition, nearly seven out
of 10 respondents believe that BOTOX Cosmetic (72 percent) and hyaluronic acid dermal fillers (65 percent) are important parts of their aesthetic routine.

“Interestingly, among BOTOX Cosmetic patients, nearly seven out of 10 respondents also received treatment with hyaluronic acid fillers with the majority of respondents being treated with JUVÉDERM,” says Dr. Casas. “Most people have great success with BOTOX Cosmetic and dermal fillers; however, we need to make patients aware that even though injectables are not ‘surgery,’ their administration is a medical procedure
with risks that depend on the training and experience of the clinician, the clinical setting and the technique used.”

Additional findings of the survey found that 72 percent of respondents received BOTOX Cosmetic injections to treat their glabellar lines – also referred to the “11″ -the frown lines in between the brows, while 63 percent of those surveyed received hyaluronic acid dermal filler injections to treat their nasolabial folds – also known as the “parentheses” – the lines around the nose and mouth. A few of the most frequently cited reasons to receive treatment with BOTOX Cosmetic was “to look more relaxed, less stressed” while patients reported choosing treatment with hyaluronic acid dermal fillers to “look more rejuvenated.”

Based on its annual survey of U.S. physicians performing cosmetic procedures, ASAPS recently reported that BOTOX Cosmetic injections have remained the most frequently performed procedure since FDA approval of the product in 2002. Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers ranked as the third most popular procedure performed last year. ASERF conducted this follow-up survey to quantify the characteristics and opinions of the patients who receive the treatment to help its members and the public obtain a better understanding of these important modalities.

In honor of working women who have helped make BOTOX Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin Type A) the most popular physician-administered aesthetic treatment for the last seven years, Allergan, Inc. just launched the “BOTOX Cosmetic: Express Success” charitable education campaign. Spearheaded by actress and singer Vanessa Williams, the campaign will benefit the not-for-profit Dress for Success, an organization that helps disadvantaged women succeed in the workforce, through a $250,000 donation from Allergan.

Allergan is donating $2 to Dress for Success on behalf of each of the first 25,000 people who visit and register on the campaign Web site, www.ExpressSuccessCampaign.com  click to Get Involved!

When pledging support on the ExpressSuccessCampaign.com Web site, you also can enter to WIN a trip for two to New York City to have lunch with Vanessa Williams, read Vanessa’s personal blog as well as get interview and workplace tips.  This is such am amazing opportunty!

About Vanessa Williams: Vanessa Williams has achieved success in every area of entertainment, including the worlds of music, theatre, film and television. She has sold millions of albums, earning multiple Grammy Award nominations and countless other awards and honors. She has starred in numerous films, television and Broadway productions and has won or been nominated for the Emmy , Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards and has won two NAACP Image Awards for her role as the deliciously wicked Wilhelmina Slater on the hit ABC series, “Ugly Betty.” Concord Records will release her 13th album, “The Real Thing” in June and she recently appeared in the box-office hit, “Hannah Montana: The Movie.”

About Allergan, Inc.: Founded in 1950, Allergan, Inc., with headquarters in Irvine, California, is a multi-specialty health care company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative pharmaceuticals, biologics and medical devices that enable people to live life to its greatest potential – to see more clearly, move more freely, express themselves more fully. The Company employs more than 8,000 people worldwide operates state-of-the-art R&D facilities and world-class manufacturing plants. In addition to its discovery-todevelopment research organization, Allergan has global marketing and sales capabilities with a presence in more than 100 countries.

About Dress for Success: Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to more than 90 cities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, the UK and the West Indies. To date, Dress for Success has helped more than 500,000 women work towards self-sufficiency. Visit http://www.dressforsuccess.org  to learn more.

Few months ago I had an amazing opportunity to interview the very famous Olympic Gold Medalist: Nadia Comaneci. I don’t want to sound too star struck, but Nadia Comaneci was a big deal back where I grew up, Israel that is. And I used to even mimic her Olympics moves with my friends, it was our inside joke.

Well, here it is, my interview with Nadia Comaneci which was published in Beauty Interviews August 2008 edition:

Nadia Comaneci is a winner of five Olympic gold medals, and the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10 in an Olympic gymnastic event. She is also one of the best-known gymnasts in the world. In this interview Nadia Comaneci talks to Marta Walsh about some of the most memorable moments in her career, how did she first got interested in Botox Cosmetic, what compelled her to team up with Mark Spitz to launch the Your Personal Best Campaign, what are some of the pressures that come with being a champion, and what inspires her the most.

Marta Walsh: As world famous gymnast you don’t need much introduction. What have been some of your most memorable moments of your career?
Nadia Comaneci: When I got my first 10. The score board showed 10.00 for the first time and everyone was so shocked, including myself.

MW: How did you first get interested in Botox Cosmetic?
NC: My good friend Anastasia Soare, who is an eyebrow guru, first let me know that I could do something to relax the muscles in between my eyebrows that caused the 11, that were making me look stressed and tired. I then talked to my doctor who recommended BOTOX Cosmetic. She answered all my questions and made me feel very comfortable about my decision to try BOTOX Cosmetic. I’ve been using it ever since! What do you like most about Botox Cosmetic?
About five years ago, I realized that while I exercised and ate right most of my life, there was nothing I could do on my own that would get rid of those two stubborn frown lines stamped on my forehead. They looked like an ‘11′ and made me upset with the way I looked, and that’s when I decided to talk to my physician about BOTOX Cosmetic treatment. I like the treatment because its safe and simple solution to improving my appearance.

MW: How do you feel Botox Cosmetics changed the appearance of your skin?
NC: I still look like me, I still have lots of expression in my face, I am just without that 11 between my eyebrows.

MW: What advice can you give to women who are considering Botox for the first time?
NC: Women and men should feel empowered to do whatever it takes to feel their best and if that means aesthetic treatments like BOTOX Cosmetic, then that’s their choice. I would advise women to talk to their doctor about BOTOX Cosmetic. If you are looking for a doctor, one great resource for finding one is www.YPBevents.com

MW: What compelled you to team-up with Mark Spitz to launch the Your Personal Best Campaign?
NC: Mark and I are old friends. He’s always been motivated to work towards his personal best in all aspects of his life. It was natural for the both of us to want to help motivate others to do the same.

MW: Why is it easy for you to be honest about incorporating Botox into your skincare regimen?
NC: At the age of 46, I feel healthier and more confident than ever. As a young athlete I learned that you can’t sit back and wait for things to happen – you have to make them happen. To me that also means making the effort to look as good on the outside as I feel inside and I’m very proud of that fact.

MW: How have some of the disciplines you learned as an Olympic champion translated into your day to day life?
NC: Though I’m not competing anymore, I still have the same drive to achieve my personal “10″. That’s reflected in my attitude towards my work, my family and how I care for my body. To help me keep up mentally and physically, I eat right, exercise and take care of my appearance.

MW: What advice can you give us on staying in peak shape both physically and mentally and achieve our personal best?
NC: Take time for yourself and give yourself permission to focus on the things that help you feel your best in all aspects of life. For some of us, that may mean different things like seeing a doctor about aesthetic treatments, like BOTOX® Cosmetic, if you begin to feel like your best isn’t showing through.

MW: What was your toughest competition of your gymnastic career?
NC: All competitions were very difficult. Whether they were small or the Olympics, I always had to give my best. If I had to narrow it down to one, I would say the 1980 Olympics. It was difficult competing in Russia against gymnasts who were considered the best.

MW: What are some of the pressures that come with being a champion?
NC: When you’re competing young, like I did, you don’t think of the pressure. I just did the best I could and gave 100 percent every time. However, there was quite a lot of pressure in defending my title the second time around.

MW: Who and what do you find inspiring in life?
NC: My family.

It was a pleasure to interview Nadia you can find out more about Botox Cosmetic at the official website: www.botoxcosmetic.com

Nadia Comaneci was interviewed by Marta Walsh for BeautyInterviews.com

Legendary sports icons, Nadia Comaneci and Mark Spitz support Your Personal Best Public Education campaign.

Spitz and Comaneci share tips on achieving your personal best and discuss why they talked to their physicians about BOTOX® Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin Type A) Treatment.

Mark Spitz (middle) and Nadia Comaneci (right) discussing Botox.

Five-time gold medalist, Nadia Comaneci, and nine-time gold medalist, Mark Spitz, today joined Allergan, Inc. (NYSE: AGN), the maker of BOTOX® Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin Type A), to launch a new consumer education campaign – Your Personal Best. As part of the campaign, Comaneci and Spitz will share tips on how they remain at the top of their game in an effort to inspire men and women to achieve their own personal best – be it through diet, exercise or by improving their personal skin care routine.

Nadia Comaneci-Five-time gold medalist.

According to a recent national survey (n = 2,403), four in five people define their personal best as a combination of feeling their best, looking their best and fulfilling their responsibilities. Recognizing this, long-time friends, Comaneci (46) and Spitz (58) will travel the nation offering tips and insights on how women and men can define their own personal gold standard and achieve their goals.

Nadia Comaneci who describes her personal best as taking care of her inner and outer self. “As a mother of an active two-year old boy, I am constantly on the go and trying to find time to take care of myself,” said Comaneci, who today runs a gymnastics school with husband and fellow gold-medalist gymnast, Bart Conner. “About five years ago, I realized that while I exercised and ate right most of my life, there was nothing I could do on my own that would get rid of those two stubborn frown lines stamped on my forehead. They looked like an ‘11′ and made me upset with the way I looked, and that’s when I decided to talk to my physician about BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment. I attained a perfect ‘10′ at age 14, and I’m working hard to stay close to that in all that I do.”

Mark Spitz, who holds the world record for the greatest number of gold medals achieved in a single Olympic game and was named one of the sexiest men over 50 by MSN.com, decided to talk to his physician about getting treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic for the first time. “As a financial advisor and motivational speaker, my facial expression is a very important part of my message,” said Spitz. “When I am serious, my ‘11′ makes me look angry and unapproachable rather than congenial. I knew I had to do something about it, but for a long time, I just didn’t know what my options were. Then I heard about BOTOX® Cosmetic and spoke to my wife about it. She encouraged me to see a great doctor who answered all my questions.”

Spitz is not alone. The survey also found that men are four times more likely to consider aesthetic treatments if their significant other recommends them. “Today, more and more women bring their husbands into my office for a BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment to lose their ‘11,’” said Dr. Wechsler. “Men are now learning what women who are treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic have known for a long time – it’s not about looking younger, but about achieving a natural look.”

Also, According to acclaimed dermatologist and psychiatrist, Dr. Amy Wechsler, the Your Personal Best mission of encouraging people to define their own personal best and focus on total wellness is often a key factor to personal satisfaction. “I always tell my patients that their health and personal state of mind are closely connected. Simply put, improving your state of mind can be achieved by exercising, making healthy food choices and taking care of your skin. As a dermatologist, I recommend a personalized skin care regimen to help my patients achieve the results they’re looking for. By helping them improve their skin, I am putting them a step closer to achieving the ultimate mind-body connection.”

 Sharing Tips to Achieve Your Personal Best:
Comaneci and Spitz will participate in local Your Personal Best events where they will share their personal stories including their experiences with BOTOX® Cosmetic. Attendees also will have the opportunity to ask a physician expert questions about BOTOX® Cosmetic and will receive simple steps to help them achieve their personal best, including ways to:
1. Reduce Stress – Approximately three-quarters (77%) of Americans experienced physical symptoms of stress (fatigue, upset stomach, dizziness).
2. Be Sun Smart – While 58 percent of people say they are concerned about skin cancer, 40 percent of Americans never use sunscreen and only 11 percent use an SPF15 or higher daily.
3. Get Active – 39.5 percent of U.S. adults are physically inactive.
4. Catch Some Zs – Approximately 7 in 10 U.S. adults (71%) are getting less than the recommended eight hours of sleep a night on weekdays.

Important BOTOX® Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin Type A) Information: BOTOX® Cosmetic is indicated for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people 18 to 65 years of age.