Botox and human growth hormones are all the rage in the beauty industry, but one of these medications may cause more harm than beauty. Botox and human growth hormones (HGH) are examples of medications that have specific medical uses but are also used for purely cosmetic reasons. Dr. Robert Grant, a board certified plastic surgeon, says that’s where the similarities between these two drugs end.
By Robert Grant, MD
and Carolynn Grimes
ThePlasticSurgeryChannel.com
Grant, a leading plastic surgeon in New York says the use of neurotoxins for improvement of facial appearance in the recommended doses has a safety profile and a track record of success that is unparalleled in the aesthetic world. “When used judiciously, the use of neurotoxins like Botox and Dysport have been a great advance in improving how one looks and feels about themselves,” says Grant.
However, the opposite is true, Grant says, when human growth hormones (HGH) injections are used for cosmetic reasons. Grant says growth hormones have not been proven safe over the long-term, and without a track record of reliability, he doesn’t recommend their use for cosmetic reasons. “There’s a reason human growth hormones are condemned when used cosmetically by just about every reputable endocrinologist who has studied its use,” says Grant.
What is HGH?
HGH is a hormone that is naturally produced in the pituitary gland in the brain. It stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration, but normally declines after adolescence. Currently the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not endorse the use of HGH as a form of anti-aging treatments. Some of the possible side effects of HGH include:
- high blood pressure
- heart failure
- diabetes
- abnormal bone growth
- hardening of the arteries
- joint/muscle pain or arthritis-like symptoms
If you are someone who is interested in staying younger looking, you are probably better off sticking with the tried and true. Botox has been around for more than two decades and studies indicate that it is safe for cosmetic treatments. Now, there are other brands of neurotoxins on the market that give consumers more choices, including Dysport and Xeomin.
A Healthy Sex Life Increases HGH Production
Grant says if you are still interested in human growth hormones for keeping yourself young looking, he has an alternative suggestion; have more sex! Grant says a recent study from Scotland reports that having a healthy sex life, meaning making love with your partner on average three times a week, can make you look as much as seven years younger. In addition to promoting self-esteem and confidence, sexual activity increases the production of human growth hormone. Grant says, “There really is no better exercise for the mind and body than a healthy sex life.”