When I recently decided to take a short cruise aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Gem from New York I pictured myself singing karoke or throwing money away in a slot machine.  Plus, having a lovely meal at Cagney’s, one of the best features of “Freestyle Cruising”, was certainly an enticement.

Instead, I became a convert of Botox and plan to get the procedure next time I take a cruise.   Previously I warned cruisers to avoid getting any procedures on a cruise ship that should be performed by a licensed professional such as teeth whitening, which is administered salon staff instead of a dentist.

(Read no further if you don’t have a vain bone in your body. This posting is for shallow people like me who watch shows like “Housewives of New York” and try to guess the combined amount the “stars” have spent on plastic surgery)

Then I met Dr. Victor Medina in Norwegian Gem’s spa/fitness center who told me Botox treatments were first offered on NCL’s ships but have spread to Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Princess ships.  The handsome doctor (who admits he administers his own Botox) works for Steiner’s Leisure Group, which operates spas on the majority of ships in the cruise industry. A Miami plastic surgeon trains doctors and administers the cruise ship program.

Dr. Medina, who is also a surgeon, told me the Botox and Restylane  (used on smile and laugh lines) are popular and with good reasons: treatments take 15 minutes and downtime is minimal;  patients are told not to lay face down for four hours.  Add to this,  the treatments aren’t permanent or non-surgical and very few people have adverse reactions.   And, while Botox lasts four months, Dr. Medina said he advises clients to only get two treatments per year.

While botox is used to treat wrinkles and lines in the upper half of the face (frown, forehead and laugh lines) another medication — Restylane (Dysport) — takes care of  lips, creases and smile lines.

I asked why anyone would get treatments on a cruise ship versus going to a doctor back home.  “Some don’t want their friends to know, others like the convenience of having a doctor close by and, in some cases, it’s less expensive than going to a shore-side physician”, he said.   Botox treatments begin at $300 (crows feet) and go up to $350 (area between the eyebrows) and $400 (forehead lines).  Restylane is more expensive and starts at $700 for smoothing lines from thenose to the corners of the mouth, softening lines from the corners of the mouth to the chin and lip enhancement.

You’ll see improvement from Botox injections within one or two days, with the maximum benefits appearing within a week.   Restylane improvements appear in 24-48 hours.

Regarding the potential hazards of Botox,  the medical website EMedTV advises “While most people have no problems when taking Botox, side effects are possible. In clinical studies, commonly reported side effects included droopy eyelids, muscle weakness, and difficulty swallowing. These side effects were generally mild and easily treated.”

Dr. Medina says certain people should avoid Botox and Restylane, including pregnant women, those allergic to aminoglycoside (an antibiotic), on blood thinners or with neuropathy. He’s treated patients as young as 18 but doesn’t recommend Botox for people 65+ because wrinkles have settled too deeply.

A good source of information on Botox is Web MD, which says in large doses, the drug can create botulism. Of course you should consult your physician if you’re considering on getting Botox or Restylane treatments.

Ok, I’m vain and therefore a good prospect for a sales pitch on something that really will make a difference in how I look. And I admit that the biggest sales tool was the before and after photos Dr. Medina whipped out.

Of course this is a personal decision and I certainly don’t recommend it for everyone.
Have you had Botox? Would you consider getting a treatment aboard a cruise ship?