Anti-aging... with and without botox!

(Published on 25 July 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

One of my favourite yesteryears Hollywood stars has been Lucille Ball. Her zest for life is admirable and worthy of praise. I love what Lucille says about aging… “The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.”

Lucille Ball could not have put it better sweeties… a number of my friends have been forty for the past 5 to 6 years. Facelifts, chemical peels and microdermabrasion – nothing seems to work for too long. My friend was worried about her (now very noticeable) crow’s feet. Anti-aging cosmetics were liberally bought and liberally applied. But the adamant facial lines refused to budge and fade away. Finally a dermatologist was consulted and botox injections were suggested. We returned from the consultation with my friend looking even more concerned and confused. Forget crow’s feet, suddenly her frown, laughter lines and forehead expression lines all seemed more pronounced. I promised I’d get back to her with more details about botox.

Botox is the short form of Botulinism toxin. It is a form of a purified protein that is injected locally in the area that is to be treated. Botox paralyses the muscles that are responsible for the wrinkles by blocking signals from the brain to the nerve endings, hence preventing the muscle from contracting. Injections temporarily put the muscles asleep for a short duration of time. Results are known to last longer with repeated treatments. However the secret lies in adapting a good routine to keep the lines at bay. This would involve cutting down on smoking and alcohol, exercising regularly, using sunscreen, eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and drinking lots and lots of water.

What better way to end than quote what Sophia Loren has to say about age: “There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” Oomph is no longer the fiefdom of 20-year-old sirens. Age is not important, the attitude is. How else can one explain Sophia Loren posing in a slinky black dress for the International Pirelli Calendar at the age of 71!

May be to stay forever young - we need to smoothen out the wrinkles in our mind about aging. As for we Miss Know-All’s - we use the term aging for others and for wines – never for ourselves.


Miss Know-All
wow@dailymirror.wnl.lk