Suddenly looking well

The beneficial effects of improved appearance far outweigh any downsides of Botox therapy.

One sure way to protect skin is to stay out of the sun but New Zealand's outdoors lifestyle tends to preclude it, particularly in the Far North where we have higher-than-average sunshine hours. The alternative, according to Tracy Spruitt of Peaches Appearance Medicine Skin and Body Clinic, is always to wear a hat, cover the arms and legs and to use a broad spectrum sunscreen. Women seem to have got that message but have men?

"Younger men are more aware but I'd have more difficulty getting a farmer to come in here because the treatments would be considered fluffy," she says pragmatically.

Impediments are inevitable as we age, no matter how much protection is afforded, but help is available. Tracy is one of only four beauty therapists in New Zealand to use Azyme retinol/bromelain peel for hydration and attacking what she calls 'dodgy' skin cells. It's her most popular treatment.

Moreover, Peaches is the only clinic north of Whangarei offering the services of a fully qualified doctor specializing in Appearance Medicine. Dr Joanna Romanowska gained her degree in South Africa in 1993 before embarking on her OE to the UK, Canada, Australia and, finally to New Zealand where she has remained. Together with her team she runs Clinic 42 in Auckland and is on the education committee of the NZ College of Appearance Medicine.

For the past ten years she has consulted every month in Kerikeri where she treats moles, lumps, bumps, varicose and spider veins and manages the clinical application of Botox dermal filler injections.

"Botox used to be the domain of millionaires and celebrities but today its use is more acceptable than it was 15 years ago and that has been driven by the likes of television make-over programmes. It's now the most popular cosmetic procedure in the world."

She says the negativity surrounding the use of Botox is due to misinformed gossip and poor treatment administered by unskilled practitioners. Few would be more unskilled than AbFab's Patsy Stone who in the first episode of season four famously self-administered her face to total rigidity. The good news is that properly administered Botox treatment enhances appearance without restricting facial muscle movement and it's important to know what Botulinum Toxin Therapy actually is.

"It's a protein made by bacterium which sounds weird but that's similar to penicillin which is from fungus mould and as a protein the body breaks it down so it's a natural process," says Dr Romanowska.

"Appearance Medicine uses minute amounts but there are other beneficial medical indications such as for strokes, palsy or ticks and in the treatment of migraines for instance - so the cosmetic industry has provided medicine with that evolution."

And Botox is safe. Dr Romanowska says 'very minimal' side effects could include bruising or a mild headache in the first week but no permanent side effects have been recorded. The beneficial effects of improved appearance far outweigh any downsides and those who try the treatment swear by it, even those who probably wouldn't admit to having received it. They remain quiet while looking 'well'.