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CNN Live Today

FDA Approves Botox

Aired May 07, 2002 - 11:26   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Hot topic in health, growing old but looking young, that's what a lot of people want as they seek that elusive fountain of youth. A lot -- a lot of people are turning to the wrinkle remover Botox.

We're bringing in Dr. Sanjay Gupta to talk about that.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's all the rage. I tell you Botox, it's actually a poison, but you inject it underneath the skin, it paralyzes the muscle, gets rid of wrinkles. The big deal now, the FDA has just approved this recently to remove forehead wrinkles, the wrinkles that you get sometimes on your forehead. It is all the buzz, but it's about to become a bigger buzz. Take a look at this -- part of this $15 million ad campaign.

KAGAN: $15 million.

(BOTOX COMMERCIAL CLIP)

GUPTA: And it's quickly becoming one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures, dermatological procedures. Costs about 400 bucks. It's been around a long time, but because of this FDA approval, it's certainly gaining in popularity.

KAGAN: Well and if we're going to start seeing it on our -- on our television sets, just like we would see now the prescriptions drug ads, that's kind of controversial is it?

GUPTA: It really is, you know, and a lot of people take an issue with prescription drug -- targeted prescription drug advertising. And we actually showed the particular ad that you just saw to some people from Families USA and here's what they had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RON POLLACK, FAMILIES USA: If we allow these kinds of ads, which in many ways are terribly misleading because they make you feel we've got a miracle cure and there's no problem, I think we're going to find more and more people asking for it and they're going to be terribly disappointed because they're going to be misled and they're going to have to spend a fortune in the process.

(END VIDEO CLIP) GUPTA: And the makers of Allergen who make Botox obviously disagree with that to some extent. They say it's actually not misleading. There's been some scientific proof that Botox does reduce wrinkles. There's been scientific evidence of that, and they're advertising like so many other people do. They're just doing what everyone else is already doing.

KAGAN: I bet they are, trying to make a buck or two.

GUPTA: Absolutely.

KAGAN: A buck off of Botox.

OK, Sanjay, thank you so much.

GUPTA: Thank you.

KAGAN: We're going to see much more of Sanjay tomorrow because tomorrow on CNN LIVE TODAY, where are we, here we are, we're going to go from face lifts and nose jobs, liposuction and tummy tucks. The race is on for a better body, but do these quick fix surgeries really work? We're going to page Dr. Gupta tomorrow and find out. Get your questions ready.

We know from last week when we did faces, you do have a lot of questions, so you can send your questions in by going on to CNN.com. Look for Sanjay's beautiful face. You click on that and then send in your e-mail. That's tomorrow beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, how much work do you think that face has had?

(LAUGHTER)

GUPTA: Show you tomorrow.

KAGAN: That's a story for another day.

HARRIS: There you go. Got you, pal.

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