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Summer heat means excessive sweating that can be uncomfortable and even embarrassing for some people. Dr. Jennifer Walden appeared on KXAN in Austin, Texas to discuss the wonder-drug Botox and its abilities to cure unpredictable sweating.

The uber-popular, FDA approved cosmetic injectable, Botox, normally used to treat wrinkles between the brow. What many don’t know is that it also effectively treats excessive underarm and hand perspiration, a condition known as hyperhidrosis, which affects people with uncontrollable overactive sweat glands. Botox can be injected under the arms to block the chemical signals that trigger the glands to secrete sweat. This 10 to 15-minute procedure performed in the doctor’s office under topical numbing cream effectively blocks sweating under the skin without interfering with the body’s natural ability to cool itself. No need to hide out from the heat (or public speaking) any longer!

Many say that the economy is on its way to recovery since the economic downturn of 2009-2010. The market is showing increases, buy many feel a more indicative marker on the economic recovery is the increase in the number of cosmetic procedures performed each year. Cosmetic procedures are seen as a marker of disposable income and in the past year cosmetic procedures have increased 5%, with 1.5 million plastic surgeries performed in 2011. The most noticeable increase has been seen with minimally invasive procedures such as Botox, dermal fillers and laser treatments. These procedures have become increasingly popular because of the nominal cost and also due to the fact that they require little to no downtime with most people returning to work the same day. Although cosmetic procedures have not quite made it back to where they were at their peak in 2005, many are optimistic that the numbers will continue to increase and reach their previous highs over the next few years. Check out Dr. Jennifer Walden on Austin’s KVUE TV on these trends.

It used to be that you would go to a salon to get your hair and nails done but these days salons offer all kinds of beauty treatments including cosmetic injectables and even more invasive procedures. The prices can be very cheap, but the results can be catastrophic.

On this episode of KVUE’s HealthVue, Dr. Jennifer Walden is interviewed on why it is crucial for consumers to take a second look and ask more questions. Notably, there was a dramatic case out of Miami last year when reports surfaced about illegal cosmetic injections being performed on several women. “Doctors” were accused of injecting these women with substances like mineral oil, super glue, concrete, and Fix-a-Flat. The women reportedly were getting buttock injections in hopes of attaining a healthy “backside”, but they could have lifetime disfigurement as a result.

Last month, in Tyler, Texas, a salon owner was arrested for injecting clients in the breast and buttocks with an unknown substance (likely automotive grade silicone) and closing it with a superglue-type sealant. Why would someone get this done to their body? Perhaps it is the very low cost and the lack of information about what these victims are being injected with.

As Dr. Walden explains, it is important that patients are educated about the three P’s: Product, Practitioner, and Place.

1. Product - Make sure the product you are getting injected with is an FDA approved product for the particular area you are wanting injected. The FDA has approved certain products for injection into different regions of the face for cosmetic purposes, like Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse, and Sculptra. There is no synthetic material that has been approved by the FDA for injection in the breast so that is a red flag itself. Ask what neurotoxin or filler is being used, and even research the product labeling online. If a provider refuses or is unable to tell you what material you are being injected with, do not let that person treat you.

2.Practitioner – Know what type of practitioner to go to like a physician trained to do cosmetic procedures or his/her designee such as a physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, or registered nurse with cosmetic injection training. Go to a doctor in one of the core specialties like plastic surgery, dermatology, or otolaryngology who is also board-certified in that specialty.

3. Place - Don’t get injected in a place that you feel uncomfortable undergoing a procedure in such as a salon, mall, or private home. These are medical procedures and they ideally should be performed in a medical office or medical facility due to its sanitary environment with resources at hand. Often the price may seem too good to pass up, but if you hear of a Groupon ad that’s too good to be true or a salon owner that is offering rock bottom prices on something that is going to be injected in your face or body, let the buyer beware as it be dangerous or even fatal. Even at a Botox “party” or event, a physician must be supervising anyone who is doing these procedures and they must the appropriate credentials, meaning they have to be a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant with special training to administer cosmetic injectables.

In other words, do your research, ask questions, and become informed!

With an 88% increase in male Plastic Surgery procedures in the last 15 years, you may have noticed that it has become more acceptable and common for men to keep up with their appearances just as their wives have done for years. You may have also noticed that couples like Brad Pitt and Angenlina Jolie, Jay-Z and Beyonce, and the Beckhams continue to look refreshed and even younger as the years roll by. It seems that the new trend is for couples to have Plastic Surgery procedures together.

In the younger years, Liposuction is common for couples to undergo together to maintain their figures. As the couples age together, electing for couples Face Lifts is very common. Often times, the wife will go first and then coach her husband through the healing process based on her own experience. Dr. Walden recently appeared on Good Day Austin on Fox 7, an Austin News Station, to discuss this. See what she had to say about Good Day Austin’s anchor Joe Bickett:

New pictures recently surfaced of famous mom of 8, Kate Gosselin, and time seems to be reversing for her. Who ever thought that having eight children to take care of without having a job would not cause a single wrinkle or stress line on your face but in fact make you look young and refreshed? We’re not buying it either.
While it may be easy to figure out what she’s done to her hair (not to understand it though), it’s sometimes hard to see exactly what she has had done. That’s why Hollywoodlife.com asked Dr. Walden for her expert opinion to weigh in on what procedures she thinks Kate has had to look so good. This is what she had to say:

http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2011/11/22/kate-gosselin-plastic-surgery-pics/

Lindsey Lohan pulled the ultimate Pippa Middleton and stole the show at Kim K’s wedding this past weekend. Not only did she wear the same gown that Pippa wore on the evening of Kate’s wedding, Lilo also turned lots of heads with her looks - only in this case the attention wasn’t all good. In addition to rocking more cleavage than a Jersey Shore cast member, Lindsey also overdid it with the botox and lip injections.

Between the tan, the bleach blonde hair and the injectables, Linds is just as fake as the wedding between Kim and Kris. We all love a little botox. It definitely has its place our beauty regimens, but too much can make a person look older than they really are. I mean just look at this picture. Lindsey is only 25 years old and she looks older than 48 year old mom Dina!

In a recent SHAPE article Dr. Walden discusses the treatments and procedures that celebs go to on a regular basis to achieve those picture perfect looks. More celebrities are now sharing their plastic surgery secrets, which include Botox, Rhinoplasty and Skin Resurfacing. See what your favorite celebs have had done and what Dr. Walden has to say!: http://bit.ly/pwqczd