Evan Cheng lashes out, mocking S for getting facial slimming injections
I'm sure everyone remembers Edie Chan, who was seen as the most innocent supporting actress in the whirlwind marriage drama of "Big and Small Love" at the end of last year. At the time, she was constantly hounded by the media about "Big and Small Love" and whether she had secretly harbored feelings for her godbrother Wang Xiaofei. This finally pushed Edie Chan over the edge during an interview, where she unleashed a barrage of sarcastic remarks directed at Big S.When a reporter asked, "Are they (Wang Xiaofei and Big S) very sweet together now?" An Yixuan replied, "Of course. So sweet it's unbearable—their mouths are permanently turned up like they've had Botox injections that won't wear off."As the beauty queen known for her love of Botox injections, the sarcasm in this remark was unmistakable. When asked if she would accept being a bridesmaid if invited by Da S, An Yixuan politely replied, "I'll have to check my schedule." In reality, celebrities using facial slimming injections to maintain youthful appearances is an open secret.
Botox: The Mainstream Facial Slimming Treatment
As widely understood, "facial slimming" doesn't mean reducing the entire face. It refers to medically altering specific broader areas to soften facial contours. Improper injection of "slimming injections" can cause facial expression stiffness (localized facial paralysis). These so-called "slimming injections" are actually Botox!So why does botulinum toxin slim the face? What is its mechanism? Can its effects be reversed? What should be done if injected incorrectly?
Li Lizhen's Firsthand Experience with Facial Slimming Injections
Current Primary Facial Slimming Methods
1. Mandibular bone shaving (or osteotomy), primarily suitable for individuals with enlarged mandibular angles, typically presenting a square-jawed face.
2. Injectable facial slimming, primarily for individuals with thickened muscles in specific areas but without notably coarse bone structure. Currently, this mainly refers to those with solely thickened masseter muscles but not coarse jaw angles. The primary injected medication is botulinum toxin.
3. Facial fat removal via liposuction, primarily for individuals without notably coarse facial bone structure but with excess cheek fat, commonly seen in those around 20 years old.
Mainland China's sexy TV host Liu Yan admits to receiving facial slimming injections.
Botulinum toxin is a bacterial exotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum during its growth and reproduction. It is one of the most potent bacterial toxins known. Initially developed for military purposes, it entered clinical use in the 1980s with excellent medical outcomes. Currently, only China, the United States, and the United Kingdom produce its medical formulation globally. Clinical dosages are extremely small, making it highly safe.
Muscle contraction is controlled by nerves, meaning nerves serve as the primary and sole command center for muscles. Muscles only contract and perform movements upon receiving effective signals from nerves.
A key characteristic of muscles is "use it or lose it." Only muscles that undergo continuous effective contraction can maintain firmness, strength, and bulk. If left inactive, muscles become loose and soft, gradually atrophying and shrinking.Consider patients with lower limb paralysis: unable to engage in effective movement, their limbs progressively become thinner. We have all witnessed or heard of such cases.
Inhibiting muscle movement to achieve facial slimming through atrophy
Botulinum toxin acts at the neuromuscular junction, inhibiting the release of the presynaptic neurotransmitter acetylcholine.In other words, it prevents nerves from sending signals to control muscles, stopping them from contracting and performing effective movements. This keeps muscles in a state of inactivity, causing them to become loose and soft. They then atrophy and shrink due to disuse, becoming thinner and more delicate.For example, precise injection into the masseter muscle causes its atrophy and thinning, softening facial contours. This is the fundamental principle of Botox facial slimming. However, incorrect injection sites can lead to different outcomes. If administered into other muscles involved in smiling, these muscles may fail to contract during expression, resulting in a "stiff facial expression."
Pan Yang, daughter of Pan Changjiang, publicly acknowledged receiving facial slimming injections.
Symptoms may improve over time.
Since the antidote for botulinum toxin (the neutralizing agent) is animal-derived (equine), allergic reactions are possible. Additionally, the antidote is only effective if administered within 24 hours of the botulinum toxin injection. Therefore, corrective measures can still be taken within a day after an injection error.
What if the issue is discovered after more than a day? Currently, the primary methods for treating this drug-induced localized paralysis are: First choice: Injecting the same medication into the symmetrical area to restore balance, but precise targeting is crucial to avoid creating new asymmetry;Second option: Acupuncture, though effectiveness is uncertain; Third option: Wait. Since the effect lasts only about six months, it will largely resolve on its own afterward. Thus, there's no need to worry about permanent results after a failed injection.
Advantages and Limitations of Botox Wrinkle Reduction
The advantages of Botox wrinkle reduction include minimal damage, quick results, ease of administration, affordability, and no disruption to daily activities.Compared to traditional methods like chemical peels, facelifts, collagen injections, fat grafting, or micro-incision facelifts, it only requires injecting a specific dose of botulinum toxin into the forehead or glabella. The entire process takes just a few minutes and is painless. However, botulinum toxin wrinkle reduction also has limitations. For instance, the wrinkle-reducing effect of a single injection typically lasts between 4 to 8 months. To achieve long-term effectiveness, 3 to 4 injections per year are required.Additionally, while Botox can address common wrinkles like crow's feet, forehead lines, glabellar lines, nasolabial folds, and neck wrinkles, it is most effective for early-stage, less pronounced wrinkles. If the recipient has deep wrinkles or significant skin laxity, the results will be significantly diminished. Therefore, it is not 100% effective.Furthermore, botulinum toxin is contraindicated for pregnant or breastfeeding women, individuals with myasthenia gravis, those with allergies, patients with ptosis (drooping eyelids), and those with internal organ diseases such as heart, liver, lung, or kidney conditions. Regarding adverse effects, when administered strictly within safe dosage limits, complications are rare.