FROM THE DESK OF Dr. Sheila Newsom

BY SLOANE WICK

From an outside perspective, Dr. Sheila Newsom’s life looked perfect. She sat on the porch of her and her wife’s villa, a mug filled with coffee in her hand and watched the waves crash. At 63 years old, her life appeared to be ripped out of the happily ever after of a Hallmark movie or a serene travel destination commercial. She had served in the Army, become a successful physician and raised a beautiful family. By every external marker, she and the life she had built were nearly flawless.

That’s when the voice first spoke to her.

Before this moment, Sheila was Gary, but the voice’s message was clear. “Sheila, you’re a woman and always have been, and there’s work to do.”

So Sheila did the work. She worked to overcome body dysmorphia, criticisms from loved ones, suicidal thoughts, alcoholism and countless other obstacles to finally feel free in her own body, and in 2018 she came out as transgender. Now she offers advice to other women looking to find their own freedom.

I don’t think you can do much of anything in the world without honoring your inner voice. Trying to do anything simply to please someone else always falls apart. I think that you are primarily responsible for your own integrity, and that includes the body and mind. We give so much of ourselves away in so many ways. It is hard to realize what is really going on in those exchanges. The central point is this: nurture a tenacity to develop your own sense of integrity.

To be fully comfortable in your own body is difficult. It is a really treacherous place to be for many of us these days. There are all sorts of issues and inertia within society that compel us to look and feel and think in a certain way based on images. Images have great power. I say again: Images have great power. That’s one thing that I would suggest; we’ve got to start giving women, young women especially, this freedom to be who and what they are, whatever that may look like from the outside. The interior image, that is the foundation of the outside and it is sacred.

Most of us aren’t going to be 5 foot 10 inches and weigh 130 pounds and have a perfect complexion and figure, and yet that’s what we were assigned. The main thing is just be who you are, that authentic self, and be good with it. That’s the best thing that you can do for your own soul and also for the soul of the world.

I would say that the images are the most important thing. Finding an image of what you want to be and look like, I think, is vital. The reason is because the images carry a valence. They carry a charge, and they go way deep. And they stay with [you]. So what we see on TV, what we watch at the movies, what we see and all sorts of publications is really important.

I’ve suggested to most everybody that I work with to have a vision board. So I think that is probably the best advice that I can give you. Find images of exactly what it is that you want to be. Put it on your vision board, do affirmations around it and spend time with that each day. And you grow into that.

Surgical | Medical | Cosmetic

Botox is a neuromodulator that causes muscles to relax and has been used for over 20 years in cosmetics treatments. It helps to improve the cosmetic appearance of facial lines and wrinkles. There are also many medical uses for Botox, which treat various symptoms and conditions, including chronic migraines.

If you’re considering Botox for cosmetic or medical purposes, you may be wondering what information is true and what’s false. Ready to bust the myths? Read on and let’s separate fact from fiction.

Fact: Botox has been safely injected for years

Botox is FDA approved for cosmetic treatments (since 2002) and certain medical conditions. Millions of people have used it safely and effectively for years. Botox treatments are safest in the hands of a qualified injector who follows all recommended protocols for dosing, storage and administration of the drug. Always find an injector with experience, knowledge of anatomy and qualifications to ensure you have a safe and effective experience.

Fact: Botox relaxes muscles to help you look well-rested and bright, while maintaining facial expressions

Botox relaxes strong muscles at the point of injection, which softens wrinkles. A few injection points are around the crow’s-feet, frown lines and forehead wrinkles. Botox does not affect other muscles involved in overall facial expressions, therefore you will still be able to express yourself. The quality of your results depends on the skill of your injector. So do your research and find an experienced and qualified injector who approaches injections as an art.

Botox is now becoming widely popular for its preventative benefits as well. If someone looks “frozen” or unnatural after injections, it may be due to incorrect dosing or technique. Botox must be injected carefully and skillfully to maintain the harmony of the muscles and the natural facial balance.

Fact: Botox is NOT Botulism

Botox is a purified protein, Botulinum toxin, derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, and is a product that has been approved as safe by the FDA. The product is administered in small doses and remains at the injection site to reduce specific muscle activity by blocking the nerve impulses that trigger muscle contractions.

Fact: Botox has many medical uses

Botox was initially used for medical conditions around the eyes. While treating these patients, the cosmetic benefits were discovered. A few medical uses for Botox include depression, chronic migraines, bruxism (teeth grinding), strabismus, eyelid muscle spasms, overactive bladder, excessive underarm sweating and sweaty palms. Botox is quickly becoming the drug that treats everything.

Fact: Botox treatments are minimal to no pain

Overall, most patients report only mild discomfort during Botox injections. The needles are very small and thin with a tiny amount of liquid being injected into the muscle. This means the treatment is quick and you should only feel a slight prick, if anything, during an injection. The number of injections depends on the areas being treated and varies for each person. Most people tolerate Botox injections well, each injection only taking seconds to yield youthful, well-rested, natural-looking results lasting four to six months. Sign me up!

Corina Corbeille, RN, CANS