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A few years ago non-surgical cosmetic rejuvenation made the headlines when the world found out why Priscilla Presley looked like her face was deformed. The unfortunate thing about this whole story is the fact that someone who is that wealthy fell victim to an unscrupulous sleek doctor from Argentina.

If you didn’t read the details of the story, allow me to give you a quick overview: in 2003, the smooth-talking doctor who had befriended many of Hollywood A-listers started injecting some of the wealthiest women with the “miracle injections” that he claimed to be better than Botox Cosmetic.

Dr. Daniel Serrano’s concoction was nothing more that low-grade silicone that is very similar to what’s used in his native Argentina to lubricate auto parts! He was charging between $300 to $500 for each injection and he was able to fool people like Shawn King (Larry King’s wife) and Diane Richie (Lionel Richie’s ex-wife).  Dr. Serrano’s smuggled mixture was NOT approved by the FDA (Food and Drugs Administration bureau in the U.S.) and he was NOT even licensed to practice in the US.

UPDATE FOR ALL OUR READERS FROM THE EDITORS AT MYBEAUTYMATCH- If you’re considering Botox but are nervous about the injections and/or having a surgical procedure, the product Bellaplex is a great option. It’s gotten rave reviews from women who’ve used it and they are now offering a free trial until August 26th 2010.

Here’s what one reviewer wrote: “I have lines on the lower part of my face and did not want to try Botox. I researched various products on the internet and really liked the testimonials I read on Bellaplex. I decided to go ahead and try it. I have been using the product now for 30 days and I can really see a difference. I signed up for the auto-ship so I don’t have to worry about ever running out. I can’t wait to see how I look after using this product for 6 months!” Margie B.

These stories are always unsettling because they give way to a lot of false rumours and a lot of misconceptions. It’s also very detrimental to the image of qualified and reputable cosmetic doctors.

bellaplex anti wrinkle best cream

When you add the ease at which most of us can share information via the internet to stories like Priscilla Presley’s, then you quickly find yourself with a lot of inaccurate information disseminated by unqualified people.

I consulted with cosmetic dermatologist and FACE Institute steering committee member Dr. Nowell J. Solish to help set the record straight and answer a lot of questions that people have about Botox Cosmetic.

I wanted to focus on the safety of using Botox treatments as an anti-aging solution:

Why are non-surgical cosmetic treatments so controversial?

Dr. Solish:  I don’t think these treatments are controversial.  But many people are confused about their non-surgical cosmetic treatment options. People are overwhelmed by cosmetic treatment information and aren’t sure who to talk to about their treatment options, how specific treatments work and the best treatments for them.  In fact, the recent FACE Institute Cosmetic Enhancement Survey found that more than half (57 per cent) of Canadian women are confused by their cosmetic treatment options and many don’t know what treatment options are available through doctors. Consumers need to be better educated about their cosmetic treatment options and understand the benefits, pros and cons, and results of the best treatments for them.

Are there any myths about non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as Botox Cosmetic?

Yes, there are many myths about non-surgical cosmetic treatments. For example, many people are confused by Botox Cosmetic. They aren’t sure how Botox differs from other treatments such as facial fillers. Also, they don’t seem to realize that with an 18-year safety history, Botox Cosmetic is very safe and has been used on millions of people around the world. Many people may not be able to decipher credible information on non-surgical procedures from what they might hear on television, from friends, in magazines, etc.

What is Botox Cosmetic?

Botox Cosmetic is a purified protein and a medical prescription product that has been approved by Health Canada. Unlike facial fillers, Botox doesn’t fill in facial lines or restore volume loss; it is used to relax the facial muscles that cause deep lines and wrinkles.

How does Botox Cosmetic work?

Botox Cosmetic relaxes the muscles underneath the skin that cause frown lines between the eyebrows, crow’s feet, and forehead wrinkles. Botox Cosmetic treatments around the eyes and forehead can be used in combination with dermal facial fillers (such as Juvéderm Ultra and Ultra Plus) which are used around the nose and mouth for total facial rejuvenation.

Botox treatments usually take about ten minutes, and around three to seven days to take effect. Results can last approximately four to six months.

Are Botox treatments safe?

Botox Cosmetic has a long and well-established safety history. While you may only know Botox Cosmetic as a wrinkle treatment, it has actually been in use for over 18 years for the effective treatment of a range of aesthetic and medical conditions and is one of the most widely researched medicines in the world.

Botox Cosmetic is the most popular physician-administered cosmetic treatment in North America with an estimated 15 million treatments performed since it was first approved.

Can Botox treatments leave me looking “startled” or frozen like some celebrities?

Botox Cosmetic is intended to enhance the way a person looks, not change it. When administered properly by an experienced physician, the results look natural – you can still smile, frown and animate. People who look ‘startled’ or ‘frozen’ may have received too much treatment or may have visited a physician who used improper treatments or techniques. The treatment only relaxes the muscle beneath the lines at the point of injection, so the other elements of facial expression remain active.

After hearing about Priscilla Presley’s story, can you explain the importance of finding a qualified physician and suggest how consumers can easily locate one?

>>> If you are looking for an alternative to Botox, you will surely want to take a look at this free trial offer: Bellaplex® is a true Botox® alternative

All successful treatments should begin with a one-on-one consultation with a well-trained aesthetic-specialty physician in a proper medical setting (for example, a board certified specialist, a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon). Botox is a technique sensitive procedure so you should make sure to discuss your treatment expectations and optimal results with your physician.

If you’re interested in alternatives to Botox:

Bellaplex® is a true Botox® alternative

But don’t take our word for it. Here’s what other reviewers reported after using the product:

“I am 41 and have been noticing fine lines around my eyes and deeper lines on my forehead and in my smile lines. I also have sun damage and acne. I have tried 2 other product lines with some improvements. I read the reviews and decided to try the Bellaplex trial offer. I am pleased with this product. My skin texture is now very smooth, the lines have started to ease, and the newer acne scars and sun damage are much less noticeable. I have noticed this all with 2 weeks use. The product goes a long way. I am still wearing makeup to cover, but I am hopeful that I may finally be able to give up constant makeup touch ups! Thank you! Can’t wait to see what Hydrolyze does for my dark circles.” Brenda K.

“After spending hundreds of dollars on skincare products and seeing minimal results, I decided to give Bellaplex cream a try. I have struggled with adult acne since my 30’s; now at age 41 I am also starting to see aging lines around my eyes and between my eyebrows. I have been using Bellaplex for two weeks now (7-day free trial and now on auto-ship) and honestly cannot believe the turn around my skin has already taken. Not only have the fine lines diminished, but I have not had one breakout since starting the product and I also have seen a drastic change in my skin tone. The original purchase was to treat the fine lines but I have experienced results far beyond. I will never stop using Bellaplex, as it is well worth every penny.” Mary C.

“I became interested in Bellaplex when I saw the ingredients it contained, specifically peptides – Matrix 3000. I am 46 years old and have noticeable wrinkles beginning to set in. I received my first order of Bellaplex 3 1/2 weeks ago and have used your product 2 times a day since then. I have noticed a definite improvement in the fine lines around my lips, and some improvement in the deeper facial expression lines. I plan on continuing to use Bellaplex to see it’s full effects with the continued use. So far I am happy with the results and hope to see even more.” Susan Y.

Bellaplex vs. Botox comparison

Bellaplex vs. Botox comparison – taken from manufacturer’s website

>>> If you are looking for an alternative to Botox, you will surely want to take a look at this free trial offer: Bellaplex® is a true Botox® alternative

karon_kitchener_botox_gone_bad

In my opinion, birthdays after the age of 35 and having to face dating again after a divorce or a break-up as you age are top on my list. I’d say that milestone birthday like 40, 50 or 60 might also be right up there.

Let me start with the birthdays after 35 – I think that you look at yourself and wonder if you are getting better or getting older and sometimes insecurities creep up and make you unsure of the image that is reflected in the mirror.

When it comes to a divorce or a break-up of a long term relationship … nothing beats your self-confidence more than knowing that you will have to start the dating process all over again with strangers who in their head will compare you to others and might judge the way you look.

That said, it’s only until I read the story of Karon Kitchener that I realized how it made sense that a woman over 45 who was planning on getting married again would want a bit of enhancement to look more youthful on her wedding photos.

It seems from Karon’s shocking story that she got way more than she bargained for. After booking a session for injectable fillers to look more youthful, the British Baby Boomer found herself permanently disfigured on the left side of her face!!!!

“I wanted to look my best for my wedding. I didn’t want anything as drastic as a facelift, but I had read about these fillers and decided to have some injected into my cheeks.” – Karon Kitchener.

It’s clear from her description of events that the solution that was injected in her body didn’t work for her because it seems the solution was travelling upwards to her eyes in an effort to leave her body.

In Britain the injectable fillers’ industry is unregulated and there are close to 75 different solutions that cosmetic doctors can use to rejuvenate their clients. This is quite shocking to me.

In America the industry is very regulated because injectables are considered a medical procedure. There are surely a few bad cases, but overall the FDA is regulating these types of solutions … only eight have been approved for use in the USA. In Canada, there are two solutions because the industry is quite regulated and it takes a lot for Health Canada to agree to anything. Your (qualified and certified) cosmetic doctor will either use Juvederm® or Restylane®.

This story gets even sadder. The fact that Karon knows that every single day she’ll be looking at a mutilated face is not the only worry she has. In the past three years, she’s undergone several surgeries to try to repair her face AND she’s postponed her wedding. Her confidence is at an all time low and she’s also had to deal with a string of infections and more scarring!!!

The Daily Mail article also features Sarah Payne (60) and Susie Woods (40) two other women dealing with the nightmarish aftermath of botched cosmetic enhancement procedures.

I think it’s important to read for your own knowledge. It’s obviously a must-read for British readers.

If you’re not convinced yet that you should take time to read this Daily Mail article, here’s what a prominent London-based plastic surgeon had to say:

“I’m currently seeing 20 patients who are undergoing continuing treatment to remove lumps of filler which have ‘migrated’ around their bodies.” — Dr. Christopher Inglefield.

You can read the entire article here: I tried to turn back time with a wrinkle jab… but it wrecked my life and left me facially disfigured

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1161328/I-tried-turn-time-wrinkle-jab–wrecked-life-left-facially-disfigured.html

Photo by Ben Lester from the Daily Mail

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Unless you have that kind of discretionary income because you are extremely successful in your own right or if you are married to a man who has a boat load of money … there is no need to put out that kind of money and get yourself in financial trouble in an attempt to look perfect! There are much simpler ways.

When I read this story from my favourite U.K. online newspaper Daily Mail, I thought this was absolutely insane … the fact that this money could help feed a small village was even more shocking given the state of the economy at the time I read the article.

I’ve known for a while now that British women will spend a lot of money when it comes to beauty, skincare and other beauty-enhancement therapies, but I had no clue anyone would go as far at Christina Christoforou unless they made a living off of the way they look like let’s say Elizabeth Hurley, Kylie Minogue, Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow or Cate Blanchett.

It’s true that the London resident is an owner of a spa, it’s also true that Christina is from Cyprus and Cyprus women just like their Greek, Lebanese, Syrian, Turkish, Egyptian and Israeli cousins take their beauty regime very seriously and it’s true that body-upkeep has become in recent years some sort of a hobby for many women, but does it really justify all that money wasted on “looking good”?

One thing I forgot to mention is that Christina is only 30, so that begs the question: “what the heck will she be spending on body upkeep in 10 years when there will be far more to upkeep?”

She’s already doing Botox Cosmetic^TM shots on her neck, forehead and around her eyes and she’s also indulging in derma fillers to define her chin and cheekbones … and at 30 … things have NOT yet started to shift position.

The numbers Christina spends on herself are eye-popping and jaw-dropping: almost $700 per year on all Givenchy make-up, $1,254 per year of pedicures, $2,757 per year on two sessions of Liposmooth at $1,378 each treatment, $2,757 on a membership at the Grove Hotel’s spa, $3,115 per year on La Prairie skincare and SkinCeuticals and list goes on.

For the love of God, that is some serious money dropped on looking good. I assume if you have the money, you can really do whatever you want with it because it’s yours to burn however you which. I have a few years on Christina and I can assure you that my beauty budget doesn’t come near hers and I can also assure you that on a face-off I’d win … because on my MUCH-MUCH-MUCH smaller beauty budget … I *think I* look way better for way less (and I’m sure my confidence levels is much higher than hers because I don’t feel the need to drop those ridiculous numbers on looking good … again … if I were Halle Berry that would be a different story).

If I had all that money to spend on myself, I probably would, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I would donate just as much to charities and organisations that help those who have less. It might not be my place to judge … but I surely hope that Christina doesn’t selfishly spend all her money on herself without giving something back.

So what do you think? Is this kind of spending a bit over the top?

Here’s the original post from the Daily Mail if you want to read about the other things Christina spends her money on: How much does it cost to run your body?

Photo by Vincent Boiteau

That said, there are some celebs who openly admit to having a bit of help in keeping their youthful look.

It’s a dog-eat-dog-world in Hollywood and I may be all philosophical about aging and I may spend a lot of time on my site pushing the virtues of aging well, but then again I do not make my living in front of the camera.

I will openly admit to my readers that I’ve never had any nip, tuck or injections done not because I’m opposed to the idea or feel that I want to age gracefully, but simply because I don’t feel I need it. As long as I keep looking much younger than my real age … then I’ll only be visiting my cosmetic doctor to help me deal with my acne scars.

If all of a sudden I found myself hosting Beauty Match TV as a real TV show and if I had to see myself on a 50′ inch flat screen HDTV, perhaps I too might be begging my cosmetic doctor for injection fillers and Botox Cosmetic^TM.

You have celebrities such as Angelica Houston and Joan Collins who have tried Botox once or twice and didn’t like the experience and then you have socialites such as Ivana Trump who dodges the question all together when it’s clear she was NOT born with the face she currently has because a) she’s looking a lot like Joan Rivers these days b) no one is born (or ages) with a face that puffy!

Let’s not forget Nicole Kidman who conveniently keeps her lips shut when it comes to admitting or denying her obvious overindulgence in Botox injections!

Then you have stars like Patricia Heaton from the sitcom Everyone Loves Raymond (51, born March 4, 1958) and Sharon Osborne (56, born October 9, 1952) who are very open about their plastic surgeries and the injections they get on a regular basis to keep a youthful appearance on camera. The thing with those two stars is that they still look quite natural and do NOT frighten small children like Joan Rivers does.

There are a number of Hollywood actresses who have come clean about their use of injections:

1) Lisa Rinna (45, born July 11, 1963): we had featured Lisa on the site and you can read her take on the beauty industry here: Does Lisa Rinna regret her plastic surgery enhancements?

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2) Linda Evangelista (43, born May 10, 1965): This Canadian supermodel is not shy in admitting that it’s not only her Italian good genes helping her age well.

You can read more on Linda Evangelista here: A Canadian supermodel is redefining beauty in her forties

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3) Jenny McCarthy (36, born November 1, 1972): Jenny has always been extremely outspoken so it’s no surprise she feels comfortable sharing with the public that when it comes to remaining wrinkle-free … she’s getting some help from her cosmetic surgeon!

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4) Daisy Fuentes (42, born November 17, 1966): The Cuban beauty is not shy in admitting that as she ages, she thinks that a little Botox is not such a bad thing.

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5) Jennie Garth (37, born April 3, 1972): Perhaps having to be surrounded by 20-something girls on the set of the new 90210 series has prompted Jennie to seek the help of a cosmetic doctor to help her look as young as the other cast members on the show!

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6) Vanessa Williams (46, born March 18, 1963): With each new season change, Vanessa Williams makes a trip to her cosmetic doctor to get some Botox injections! The villainess of the now defunct Ugly Betty show is not leaving it to chances when it comes to controlling how she looks as she ages.

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7) Kelly Ripa (38, born October 2, 1970): She got her Botox injections live on the Regis and Kelly Show!

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#8) Virginia Madsen (47, born September 11, 1961): Virginia became the spokesperson for Allergan the maker of Botox Cosmetic^TM to let women know that Botox CAN actually look very natural when it’s well done and you don’t have to scare young children with a frozen looking face.

I’d love to put all the stars from “Desperate Housewives” on this list, but then it would fall under the “rumour” category since lips are sealed on the set of Wisteria Lane on the subject of beauty injections … even when foreheads aren’t moving and lips seem to be getting plumper with each new episode!

At least I’m happy to see that the “REAL Housewives of Orange County” aren’t shy one bit in not only admitting to their love of all things relating to beauty injections, but they even let the cameras on their little beauty escapades!

Photo source: Jennie Garth, Daisy Fuentes and Lisa Rinna from Wikipedia

Photo of Kelly Ripa by keithwills

After spotting the expensive coat that must have cost at least $90,000 USD since Chinchilla is one of the most expensive furs (if not THE most expensive furs), I noticed her face. Her lips were moving because she was answering the question the TMZ camera man had asked her, but her face was frozen. As the camera got closer to her face, I jumped back (I was standing) and I thought to myself: “Why is Ivana Trump looking like Joan Rivers”?

Well the answer is painfully simple. In my humble opinion, Ivana has had way (WAY) too many injections of Botox Cosmetic® and she’s has too many injections of fillers like Juvederm® and Restylane®.

I thought of writing something on the site, but the holidays got in the way and I totally forgot about it. I was surfing You Tube the other day and I have no idea how I landed on a video clip of a French newscaster giving his take on Ivana’s short-lived 2007 wedding to 35-year-old stud and former model Rossano Rubicondi, but that clip made me remember that TMZ clip so I went on a hunt and found both clips to share with you.

I also found a clip of Ivana in the 1996 hit movie “The First Wives Club” starring Goldie Hawn, Keaton and Bette Midler, before she started abusing Botox and filler injections. You can clearly see how different her face is from that short clip compared to the clip from TMZ.

Now, I’m not suggesting that a woman who is 60 (Ivana was born on February 20, 1949) should not visit her cosmetic doctor to refresh her look, but what I’m saying is that when you start scaring young children (AND yours truly), it’s time to say to yourself: “step away from the needle”!

It’s so obvious when people abuse Botox and filler injection because it simply does NOT look natural. When you are in the presence of someone who ODs on these rejuvenation products you immediately start having this mental conversation with yourself: “geez, she (OR he) really overdid it … does she/he know it looks awful and unnatural?”

There are many Hollywood actresses and New York socialites who have mastered the art of rejuvenation without abuse and unfortunately for her, Ivana Trump is not one of them!

I’d love to tackle Ivana’s 1980s hairstyle, but that would be another post! For now, I’ll just keep it to her overt abuse of rejuvenation products.

Here are a few visual proofs of Ivana Trump’s abuse:

1) This is an unflattering photo of Ivana and you can clearly see the abuse of fillers. In this photo she’s posing with Marilyn Manson (I’m sorry, but I find that guy very creepy). TMZ really went to town with the title of this post!

TMZ: Manson and Ivana — Naturally Beautiful People

2) Ivana Trump and Star Jones have lunch together in New York City: You can see that she overdid her cheekbones.

Here’s the TMZ video: Look at Ivana’s face

The French press crucifies Ivana: If you don’t speak French, let me translate the gist of this clip. The report believes that because Ivana Trump is a bit of a has-been-socialite now that her wedding to billionaire Donald Trump is a thing of the past and she has no talent to write, sing, act, dance and she is no longer a young-sexy-eastern-European-export, she’s found that marrying a much younger man (who has admitted to not being faithful to her) was her way of monopolizing media attention and reclaim her 15 minutes of fame. The French have a way of putting things and they rarely mince with words. If you think TMZ is bad … they’ve got nothing on the French gossip press!

Ivana in the 1996 hit movie “The First Wives Club” starring Goldie Hawn, Keaton and Bette Midler delivering her famous line: “Don’t get mad. Get everything!” I simply LOVE that line!!!

>>>> What do you think? Do you think that Ivana Trump is looking more and more like Joan Rivers? Don’t forget to leave us a comment below!

Photo from Wikipedia

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You won’t hear too many Hollywood celebrities admitting to too much Botox Cosmetics® or having had too many shots of injection fillers.

The former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant admits that she’s had her cheeks enhanced with injections of Juvederm® and she admits that she might have gone overboard (I totally agree)!

It’s interesting because Lisa (45, born July 11, 1963) admits that she was influenced by one of her girlfriends when she decided to explore this cosmetic enhancement avenue.

I wasn’t too partial one way or another to Lisa Rinna, but reading her comments about how she looks post-Juvederm injections really made my eyebrows arch with respect, because I couldn’t believe that she was willing to be that honest with her cosmetic enhancement experience.

I think it’s safe to say that soooooooooooooooooo many female Hollywood celebrities over 35 and pretty much all of them over 40 are really dipping with no shame in the cosmetic-enhancement-promised-potion-of-eternal-youth, but for so many, it just looks wrong … and the minute we seem them … we know that the starlet in question got some work done.

“I had Juvederm put in my cheeks. That’s what I overdid — big time. I tried it because my girlfriends did it. I thought, I’ll do it! I saw a photo and I was like, Oh Jesus. That’s no good. That’s NOT good. When you change your face, you don’t look like yourself. Looking fresher is one thing. I look like a freak! I always said I wouldn’t change my face, but I did it.”

“I can’t not be honest about it. I’d look like a fool. It’s so obvious. But when this happened, I realized I couldn’t hide it.” — Lisa Rinna in an interview with momlogic.com

It’s interesting because when it comes to non-surgical cosmetic enhancement, less is best!

I see everyday women all the time who blatantly look like they have work done and in my opinion, it doesn’t make them look any younger … it simply makes them look like they have a cosmetic doctor on speed dial on their Apple iPhone!

Lisa Rinna, admits that although she’s given up Juvederm, she’s still happy about her Botox injections because she doesn’t feel that it changes the shape of your face.

I’ve only met one cosmetic doctor to date who had a face full of Botox and injections, but who looked sooooooo incredibly natural that I felt bold enough to stand only inches away from her face to take a good look. She’s said to me that the key with cosmetic enhancement is to look fresher and not like someone else.

I think that Lisa Rinna has also come to the same conclusion:

“You get older and insecure and you think you need it, and you don’t,” she says. “I learned less is more. Keep your skin good.”

Every makeup artist I’ve ever interviewed has also confirmed that the best thing women can do for themselves as they get older is to make sure they have the best quality skin possible and to really focus on that … and everything else falls in place. And if you feel the need for a little extra help … make sure you don’t overdo it!

Photo from Wikipedia

>>>>> Leave a comment below and let me know if you feel insecure with the tell tale signs of aging and how far are you willing to go?

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I think that 2000-2008 can be called the “vanity years”!!!

During the past eight years, we’ve seen non-cosmetic rejuvenation go from being Hollywood’s best kept secret to something soccer-moms in the suburbs do when kids are in school.

There has been a long list of makeover shows on TV where contestants were able to go from ugly ducklings to “beautifully reconstructed” sirens – shows like “Extreme Makeover” and “Dr. 90210″). We’ve all been invited to a Botox party and we’ve seen young women (as young as 18) not preoccupied so much about taking care of themselves because “well, there’s always Botox”. Heck, we’ve even seen straight men take up the vanity industry in the hopes that a “younger looking” version of themselves will help them hold on to that high paying corporate job or get that coveted promotion.

I still remember going in for a chemical peel consultation for my acne scars in September 2008 just to have the doctor shocked by my chart. She asked in amazement “you’re a beauty editor and you’ve NEVER had Botox or fillers done?” … to which I responded “I don’t think I need it because I don’t have wrinkles or sagging skin … to which she responded “I can always find a spot on your face to improve” – oy vey (Yiddish expression for help me)!

Now that the (financial) tables have turned for most of us, the question that is burning my tongue is “are we ready to go back to living with wrinkles”? Will vanity be the price to pay in this falling economy?

With the economy at unparalleled (well, not since the depression of 1929) levels of despair, a lot of people will have to give up their Botox Cosmetics® budget and the budget they allot to preserving their youth just to be able to keep afloat.

I recently read a fascinating article on the New York Times style page that really brought to light the severity of the current economical situation and its impact on the vanity industry.

I knew this was more than a passing trend when the article highlighted the fact that they’ve recorded two manufacturers of cosmetic medical devices that have closed as a result of steep decline in business from many plastic surgeons who used to perform back-to-back breast implant surgeries. Since breast implants were THE most popular surgery, you know that attitudes are changing in light of the economy and that means that many businesses related to the vanity industry will feel the brunt of these swift changes and many will have to shut their doors and go out of business.

I’ve highlighted some of the most interesting parts of the New York Times article below:

* According to the article, “Sixty-two percent of plastic surgeons who responded to a recent questionnaire from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons said they had performed fewer procedures in the first half of this year compared with the same period last year, according to the latest anecdotal information from the group.”

* You know things are bad when surgeons are willing to cut back on their fees in order to book openings: “At the society’s annual meeting last month in Chicago, some prominent surgeons said they had openings and for the first time agreed to negotiate fees with patients.”

* Orange Country, the land of plastic surgery (and the land of the reality show “Real Housewives of Orange County”), has seen procedures and business shrink by 30 to 40 per cent.

* Even celebrities are cutting back on their Botox budget because they fear that any overt augmentation might be de mauvais goût (seen as bad taste).

* Here’s an interesting analogy referring to the recent skyrocketing gas prices: “Cosmetic surgery is going to become the new S.U.V., something that you can do without, that is less justifiable for you and your family,” said Dr. Pitts-Taylor.”

* It’s true that some women will do whatever it takes to keep their regular Botox appointments, but for many women, cutting back on essentials just to get injections won’t be a consideration.

* Some creative women are changing their hairstyle to include a bang to hide wrinkles on their forehead and extend the life of their Botox.

* It’s incredible how social context has a huge impact on how many people make choices in their lives: “Dr. Thompson, who emphasized that he was speculating in the absence of survey data, suggested that people may also make decisions about their appearance by scrutinizing the grooming practices of their friends, acquaintances, and even celebrities, a behavior called social comparison. In terms of body image, they look around at their friends,” Dr. Thompson said. “If everyone is cutting back, they may change the norm based on what others are doing.”

* Would you consider Botox to help you land a job if you’ve been laid off? “People who would not have considered it, when they get laid off at 45, 50, 55 and are back on the job market, might consider it as they try to enhance their human capital.”

* The cosmetic surgery industry is about to change dramatically and it might take a few years to find out how 2008 has impacted an industry that seemed growing out of control until earlier last year.

Giving up the vanity budget means that a lot of people are going to have to face the mirror and accept a few more wrinkles. It will be interesting to see how hard-core-Botox-users deal with not having that disposable income anymore. It will also be interesting to see how many women are willing to sacrifice other areas of their lives in order to find the money for Botox and injection fillers.

You’ll find the entire New York Times article here: Putting Vanity on Hold

Photo by EverJean

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I don’t have the type of scaring that Norah has because mine are all at the surface, but because my scars are dark, I have to say that they really bother me. It was so bad this past summer, that it affected the way I dressed because I wasn’t willing to expose my shoulders which were covered with dark hyperpigmentation spots.

I can surely sympathize with Norah and her quest for perfect skin and relief from acne scars.

If you didn’t have a chance to catch Norah’s first post, I’d recommend that you start reading that post first: Have you considered laser resurfacing to get rid of your severe acne scars?

Story submitted by reader Norah R.

New year, new me! Or, at least, that’s the idea.

After my first Fraxel treatment in November, 2008, I can’t honestly say I was looking forward to the next one. It’s painful! And for someone with a low pain threshold like me, the pain was almost unbearable the first time around … how would I react with a higher setting on the laser, as the technician mentioned the last time?

The night before my treatment, I was so nervous about the pain, I couldn’t sleep. I woke up almost every hour on the hour, until it was 6.30 am and time to get up for real.

I booked a morning appointment this time. There is one key benefit to a morning appointment — for Fraxel, your skin has to be make-up free and as clean as possible before the treatment begins. My first appointment was in the afternoon, and I felt the tiny sink, rough paper towels and Cetaphyl cleanser at the hospital didn’t really get all my make-up off that I had been wearing all day.  The benefit of an early-morning appointment is that you can go straight from your home after a pore-opening hot shower and not have to bother with make-up in the first place … your skin is already clean and ready to go. So I would recommend that!

Unfortunately, even though my skin was clean, it wasn’t really cooperating with me. Holiday stress led to a minor breakout on my chin — two or three pimples I had hoped to get rid of before my treatment began (the procedure doesn’t work well unless the skin is blemish-free) but, of course, they didn’t go away. (I wondered if maybe the heat and power of the Fraxel laser might blast them into oblivion, but unfortunately not.)

I showed up at the hospital by 8.30 a.m., my appointment time, only to be told the technician didn’t come in until 9 a.m.  In the interests of saving time, the receptionist put the numbing gel on my face straight away — it has to ’set’ for an hour to truly numb your skin — and I waited for the technician to arrive.  I was also given a prescription for Percocet this time around, as the Tylenol 3s from the previous appointment didn’t really take the edge off the pain.  Except, the hospital pharmacy didn’t open until 9 a.m. either, so I wasn’t able to fill the prescription until then. I didn’t actually take the Percocet (just one, to start) until 9.15 a.m., and I was supposed to have the procedure at 9.30 a.m. Fifteen minutes is not very much time for a drug to kick in, even one as strong as this. I asked the technician (who had arrived at work now) if we could wait a little bit longer to see if the Percocet would take effect.

We wound up doing the procedure at about 9.50 a.m. My face was fully frozen by that point and the drug was starting to take effect, so I had hoped we would be good to go. I have never taken Percocet before — I didn’t like the way it made me feel, like my limbs were made of lead. Everything felt heavy and my brain felt slow, but I was still able to chat and fully converse with the technician throughout the procedure. I was hoping the Percocet would knock me out (especially as I hadn’t had much sleep) but the pain from the laser was so intense that there was no way I could sleep through it.

Last time, the setting for the laser was apparently at number 6. This time, the technician upped it to 7. Not a tremendous increase, and to be honest, it didn’t hurt any more than it did the last time (which is to say, it hurt A LOT). When you’re dealing with that kind of pain, incremental increases are negligible!  Again, the procedure lasted about 25 minutes. The first pass-through, where the laser was moved over my skin in vertical movements was extremely uncomfortable, but I could get through it.  The second pass-through, where the laser was moved over my skin in horizontal movements was unbearable. I had to ask the technician to stop twice throughout the procedure so I could take a mini-break (but at least I didn’t tear up this time).  All the time, I was supposed to hold this cooling air pipe and aim it on the skin that was being lasered, but my eyes were closed and protected by pads and goggles, so I couldn’t actually see the path of the laser to follow it with the air pipe, I had to just go by where I felt it, and my reaction/response was delayed because of the Percocet.  Finally, the technician took pity on me and held the air pipe herself to cool my face down as we were going along.

The procedure took exactly half an hour, and by 10.30 a.m., I was in the back of a private car service, being taken back to my house, with ice packs to cool my face down. Once I got home, an hour later, the Percocet really kicked in (but by this point, I wasn’t feeling any pain — the pain for me was only during the procedure, not afterwards) and I fell asleep for nearly 3 hours.

Like last time, the next day was worse than the actual day of the procedure. My face swelled up like a tomato — I didn’t even recognize myself in the mirror. But it’s three days later now and the swelling is almost gone, just the redness remains. My skin is starting to crust and flake, and I’m trying to resist the urge to scrub the flakes off (that might expose me to infection) and just use Cetaphyl moisturiser on the affected areas.

Did I notice a difference after the first treatment?

No, not really. But then, I see my face every day and I suppose it’s harder for me to see the changes. I’ve only told three girlfriends about the procedure, and all three of them swear they can see some changes on my face, but I’m not convinced yet. Still, I know there are three more treatments to go, and the changes happen very gradually, beneath the surface of your skin. I just have to be patient — not one of my stronger points, I’m afraid!

My results one week later:

All the swelling has gone now, and I think I can notice some improvement in the scars on my cheeks. They’re still there, just maybe not as pronounced as before … or maybe this is wishful thinking on my part — it’s so hard to tell when you see your own face 24/7/365!

>>>> If any other Beauty Match readers have any great beauty experiences to share with us or even before and after photos of great accomplishments, don’t hesitate to email me with your idea, and I can write a post on your behalf and share your outcomes with our other readers.

I think it makes such a huge difference when you realize that you’re not alone and that other people are also dealing with some of the same beauty or aging issues than you!

>>>> Don’t forget to leave a comment below if you too have undergone any laser resurfacing treatments.

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>>>> If you liked this article, please share it on del.icio.us, StumbleUpon or DIGG. I’d appreciate it.

Photo by Bitterjug

I’m so grateful to reader Norah that she will gracefully recount her first of many laser resurfacing treatments to deal with scars left behind on her face from teenage acne.

Norah will be documenting her many treatments, but this is the first account of her road to having a face that is free of any scars!

Story submitted by reader Norah R.

I got to the hospital in Toronto at 2 p.m. prompt for my first Fraxel (Laser Skin Resurfacing) treatment. On account of mild to moderate acne scarring, I had been waiting to do this for over a decade, and now that the actual day of treatment was here, after all this time, I found myself equal parts anxious, excited and afraid.

I was taken into a little room, and told to wash all my make-up off so my face was squeaky clean. The technician (the procedure is not done by a doctor) applied a thick, clear gel to my face. It’s similar to EMLA, a topical analgesic that numbs your skin when you have a needle, and its purpose is to help numb your face so the laser doesn’t hurt so much. I also took 2 Tylenol 3s with Codeine at this time, along with a Valtrex (Yes, I know — Valtrex?!) If you’re like me, the first thing you think of when you think of Valtrex is sexually-transmitted diseases! But I am prone to cold sores (the herpes simplex virus), and you can’t have a cold sore when undergoing Fraxel, so I was put on a five-day prescription of Valtrex to ward off any potential outbreak. I was mortified picking it up at the drug store, lest the pharmacist think I had herpes!).

After taking the meds, I had an hour to just sit and wait for the gel and Tylenol to take effect. I read my book and tried not to get nervous (I was … I have an incredibly low pain threshhold, and all the research I’d read online said that Fraxel was quite painful). At exactly 3 p.m., I washed the gel off my face and lay down on the examination table.  The technician applied little goggles to my eyes, so I wouldn’t be blinded by the laser.  Then she applied another cream, called a ‘tracking’ cream, all over my face — I assumed it was so she could “track” where the laser had gone and what areas it covered, so nothing got missed.  She gave me what looked like a vacuum cleaner hose, except instead of sucking in dirt, it blew out icy cold air, and told me to hold that in my hands and manoeuvre it along my face in tandem with where the laser was moving, to cool down my skin as the laser touched it.

And then the torture began.

As I mentioned, I have a very, VERY low pain threshold. But somehow, I have a tattoo. I have my ears pierced. I’ve had blood tests and needles. But none of those experiences prepared me for the unique and exquisite pain that is laser skin resurfacing.

The technician started on my right jawbone and did a series of vertical, one-way movements with the laser up towards my cheekbone. The only way I can describe it is to say the sensation is like a razor blade being dragged across your skin. Then she did my chin (I had to bite my lower lip to stretch the skin on my chin taut), then below my nose (again, I had to bite my upper lip to stretch the skin there taut), then my actual nose, my left jawbone and finally my forehead. I didn’t count, but I would say there were about 50 to 75 repetitions.  But somehow, I got through them all! It actually started off not too bad, even for a big baby like me, but by the time she finished on my left temple, it was starting to hurt (she said the left side always hurts more than the right for some reason), even with me blasting away with the vacuum cleaner of cold air.

The worst part was that the Tylenol 3s did not kick in. They did nothing. Not. A. Thing. And I even took two. Now, this well may be because I occasionally suffer from really bad headaches, and I normally take up to four or sometimes five extra-strength Tylenol at a time to cope with them. Perhaps my system has built up immunity to Tylenol? Although, extra-strength Tylenol and Tylenol 3 have very different drugs in them, and I had never taken Tylenol 3 before — not even when I had my wisdom teeth out. This is something I’ll ask my dermatologist about before my next Fraxel procedure.

I thought we were finished, and I was so proud of myself for getting through it, but then the technician told me the bad news: we were only halfway through. Now, instead of doing vertical, one-way movements, she was going to repeat the entire process but do *horizontal* one-way movements.  By this point, the temperature of my face had gotten quite hot (the laser is white-hot) and the pain went from bad to worse to practically excruciating by the time she was doing the left side of my face. In fact, my arms and hands were shaking so badly from the pain, I could no longer hold the vacuum hose and she had to hold it for me.

When it was all over — 25 minutes in total for the whole thing, beginning to end — I had to wash off the tracking gel. When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t recognise myself. My face looked like a tomato. Totally swollen, particularly around my cheekbones (my eyes looked shrunken in my head), and red-hot in both colour and to the touch.

I was given two ice packs that I applied to my face to try and numb/cool the swelling. After 3 hours, my face was still red, still swollen (though not as bad) and still tender. It itched a little bit, but not much. It felt and looked like a really bad sunburn, but the pain went away after a few hours and I even went out to the movies that night. I went to bed that night thinking it looked bad but, not *awful* and that I probably wouldn’t even need to take the three to five days to work from home, as my dermatologist strongly recommended.

When I woke up the next morning, I had a completely different reaction. I tried to sleep “sitting up”, as the after-care pamphlet suggested, but during the course of the night I tossed and turned and woke up in my usual position, on my back. Looking in the mirror, I was horrified — my entire face had swelled up again, and my eyes were almost swollen shut. They looked like black eyes, but without the purple discolouration. I couldn’t see as well out of my right eye, because it had swelled up so much.

I frantically consulted the after-care pamphlet, only to discover that this is pretty normal, and the swelling should go down after three to five days. Now I understand why my dermatologist urged me to work from home — not only am I swollen, but I was advised not to wear make-up, as the idea is to keep the skin as clean and unclogged as possible whilst it heals. I was to use Cetaphyl cleanser and moisturiser — nothing else — for the next 10 days.

I will be going back in six weeks for round two … I’m very anxious because the technician told me she used a “low” setting this time, because it was my first time. Next time, she will need to use a much higher setting. I told her there was no way I could endure that again, not with just Tylenol 3s that apparently don’t even work for me (granted, everyone is different), so she recommended speaking to my dermatologist about a prescription for Percocet, which will knock me out for the treatment. But despite the pain, I’m very excited to follow this through, because I really think it will be worth it in the end.

Photo by nyki_m

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I think we’ve all done it once: look admiringly at the face of our favourite female Hollywood celebs and hope that we either had “that” nose or “those” cheekbones or “that mouth”. I’ve spoken to so many cosmetic surgeons who have said that clients routinely show up at their office with a photo of a Hollywood celeb in the hopes of looking that perfect.

The same happens when we go running to our hair stylist with Katie Holmes’ new bob or Jennifer Aniston’s new shade of highlights or even Jennifer Lopez’s new updo!

The problem is that we often forget that the reason why Angelina’s lips look good on her is because they work with her face structure and Katie Holmes’ bob rocks because of the angle of her face. When you transpose features … it doesn’t always look good because features are meant to work as an overall … so if you “move” Angelina Jolie’s lips onto your face … it won’t look as good … something will be wrong.

My friend Natasha sent me a link to an article from the New York Magazine and I was taken aback by the photo of the woman that was featured because she looked like someone I had seen before, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. There was something so incredibly perfect about her face … it was hard to say.

I then scrolled down and realized that the perfect woman in question was a composite that was created by Nucleus Imaging by combining the following celebs:

“Michelle Pfeiffer’s unfurrowed brow, Madonna’s plumped-up cheeks and wide eyes, Angelina Jolie’s super-straight nose and lush lips and Demi Moore’s angular jawline.”

Once you piece everything together, you’ll be blown away.

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The result is of course the perfect face, but yet in all that perfection there seems to be something wrong … something not quite right … something flawed.

As I was reading the article, I realized it referred to that same feeling I had when I first saw the composite, like when you see a friend, colleague, co-worker or family member and you’re not able to put your finger on what has changed, but then realize or find out that they had work done to their face to make it look younger.

The New York Magazine feature explores the anatomy of a perfect face … whether it’s one that you were born with or one that you created thanks to the help of a talented plastic surgeon.

The article also explores a very current topic … that of women who have bodies that are fitter than 25 year-olds, but who show their age on their face. I see these women at the gym on a regular basis … many have much better abs than I do. I did chat not long ago with one of them about my line of work and she quickly came out and admitted that she had been to a doctor in the hopes of refreshing her face because she felt it really didn’t match her body.

She wasn’t interested in injections, she wanted a facelift so she could look younger and get rid of all that sagging skin around her eyes, jawline and neck. Simply put, she wanted her face to match her body and her spirits.

The article refers to a new term that can only be attributed to what Baby Boomers have given us: a striving cosmetic enhancement and the pursuit of a “NEW NEW FACE”!

The article is quite long … it’s about seven pages which really makes it a feature. I think it’s a great read because New York Magazine commissioned this editor to cover the new reality of aging.

I really liked how they paraphrased the great French actress Catherine Deneuve:

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“Past a certain age, it’s either your fanny or your face. In other words, if your body is fierce (from yoga, Pilates, and the treadmill), your face will have no fat on it either and it will be … unfierce.”

You can read the entire article here: About-Face

The article ends with a very interesting recount of the “IT” faces of the last 3,378 years! It’s really interesting to see how our definition of beauty has changed.

You can jump to page seven here: 3,378 Years of the “It” Face

Photo of Angelina Jolie by yoja

Photo of Angelina Jolie holding her hair by erkans

Photo of Michelle Pfeiffer by índio

Photo of Madonna by índio

Photo of Catherine Deneuve by andy54321

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Injectable fillers are an effective anti-aging treatment for those who are looking to regain lost collagen mass in their face and neck. Injected collagen and fat are primarily used to improve the appearance of the skin’s texture, but they will also help fill out deep facial wrinkles, creases and furrows, “sunken” cheeks, skin depressions and certain types of scars.

The results are very noticeable because injectable fillers will temporarily restore a smoother and more youthful-looking appearance. Cosmetic dermatologists and plastic surgeons often use injectable fillers on their own or in conjunction with a resurfacing procedure, such as a laser treatment.

Although injectables fillers are effective at plumping up the skin, they may not be as effective at treating severe surface wrinkles on the face, such as multiple vertical “lipstick lines” (aka smoker lines) that sometimes form around the mouth. Instead, your plastic surgeon or cosmetic dermatologist might suggest resurfacing treatments, such as dermabrasion, a chemical peel or laser treatments. These treatments will provide you with a smoother appearance.

If you are looking to correct areas with deep creases and reshape the contour of your face, injectable fillers might not be what you are looking for. If those are some of your major rejuvenation concerns, your plastic surgeon might suggest more invasive options.

Injection fillers are usually safe:

Allergic reactions are the most common risks associated with injectable collagen fillers. To help determine if you are allergic to collagen, your doctor would perform an allergy skin test about 30 days prior to the date of your procedure. After the test is performed, you should carefully watch the area tested for three or four weeks (or as long as your doctor advises) to ensure that you don’t have any negative reactions to the collagen. You should immediately report any sign of redness, itching or swelling. Other risks associated with an allergic reaction to injectable collagen fillers include infections, abscesses, open sores, skin peeling, scarring and lumpiness.

You really MUST report any of these side effects to your doctor.

It’s important to note that injectable collagen fillers will not require anesthesia, because an agent known as lidocaine is already mixed in with collagen. That said, if you are particularly sensitive to pain, your doctor may use a topical anesthetic cream to numb the injected area.

Collagen injections are generally off limits to pregnant women, individuals who are allergic to beef or bovine products, those who suffer from autoimmune diseases and candidates who are allergic to lidocaine the aesthetic agent contained in the syringe with the collagen material).

Cost of injection fillers:

Fillers are not inexpensive. During our little test, we found out that each needle cost $400 (this cost will vary depending on where you live and if you see a cosmetic dermatologist versus a plastic surgeon … the latter is more expensive). You’ll quickly notice that one syringe will not be enough to really allow you to take care of all of your fine lines or wrinkles and you can easily require two to four syringes for certain areas of your face.

There are more and more financing companies offering payment plans to help alleviate the initial cost and they can be quite practical, but you’ll really want to remember that you will have to add that expense to all of the other monthly expenses you have to pay … so it can add a fair load to your debt.

Photo by Ligadier Truffaut

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Injection fillers have become one of the most popular non-surgical cosmetic rejuvenation procedures performed by cosmetic dermatologists and plastic surgeons. For a lot of women over 35, injection fillers are a way to fill out deep lines that might really make you look older than your actual age.

Eleni’s before photo: This is the photo I took of Eleni before the procedure. Eleni decided to focus on softening the lines around her mouth, aka nasal labial fold.

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Eleni’s during photo: I was able to snap these shots of Eleni during the time the doctor was injecting the fillers. It was obvious that when the doctor was injecting certain areas of Eleni’s face it was painful because I could see her eyes closing and she had that look of discomfort on her face. This is something I didn’t expect. I’ve never had fillers myself and it’s interesting how on makeover shows on the telly never really show patients feeling the sting of the injection. I think I’ve only see once on “10 Years Younger” that a participant actually let the doctor know how painful the injections were.

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Eleni’s after photo: This is a shot I took of Eleni 19 days after the treatment. As you can see the lines around her mouth are more filled out and it gives her face a softer and more youthful look.

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I’ve also asked Eleni to document her experience because I thought it would be very helpful for readers:

Friday July 11

I was a bit nervous, yet excited about going to Dr. Paul Cohen for Juvederm injections. From what I read and understood about Juvederm, it’s a hyaluronic acid filler that can last for up to a year. That sounded good to me.

It’s always disconcerting being asked if I’m tired or in a bad mood when I’m actually feeling quite perky…it’s just my age showing!

I made it to Dr. Paul Cohen’s sleek downtown office and was immediately put at ease by the professionalism of the staff. Dr. Cohen was also very nice. He zeroed in on the nasolabial folds (around my mouth) and injected one syringe into each side. He was gentle and exact in his work in order to get the best results possible. I have to admit that it hurt a little for just a bit, but nothing terrible – especially if I got to look more refreshed. The ice pads felt comforting after we were done. The whole procedure took less than 15 minutes. I was told to stay out of the sun for at least 48 hours and that was it!

By the time I got home, there was no bruising, pain or noticeable improvement to report. I knew it can take up to a week to show though.

Saturday July 12

I hung out at home and stayed out of the sun as instructed. I experienced no down time or leftover pain at all. There are no noticeable changes to report yet.

Sunday July 13

I went for brunch with friends and my friend Tom thought I looked nice. I’m still living with no pain, bruising or swelling. I do see a bit of a softer look around the mouth.

Tuesday July 15

I’m feeling perfectly normal. That said, I did notice slight bruising on the lower right side of my face, but I was able to easily cover it with makeup. I wish I could see more of a difference … I should probably check the “before” photo to remind myself that I did look tired before.

Thursday July 17

I looked like I had a case of “dirty face” just below my lower lip, on either side. I guess that’s the bruising I was told to expect. Funny – I thought it would be blue and yellow bruising, but it’s just dark.

Friday July 18

Well, I don’t want to be staring at myself in the mirror all the time, but I find that I’m doing so and can’t help it! The bruising is much lighter already and the lines on the right side of my face have settled and smoothed out nicely. I can still see the wrinkle around my mouth on the left side of my face, but it’s considerably softer. It has made me try harder to stay in touch with my “inner girl” and I found myself wearing lipstick, foundation, brows, mascara and liner all week.

Saturday July 19

I had dinner with friends and they thought I looked great – I didn’t mention the Juvederm.

Monday July 21

It has been 10 days now, so I guess this is as good as it gets. The nasolabial lines were not completely erased, but I’m really happy with the results. I’m continuing to do my hair and makeup carefully each day and also to wear something pretty instead of just “quick-out-the-door numbers”.

Friday July 25

I think the men at the construction site looked at me! No…it was probably just me looking at them again. Oh well…two weeks later and that’s it, I guess. Not as much of a change as I had hoped, but a definite softening of the nasolabial folds (around my mouth – more so on the right side of my face than on the left. Being 50 requires more filler than two syringes in order to smooth out that whole area. Dr. Cohen suggested an extra syringe to top it all off, but I’ll have to put some funds aside for that next time. In any event, I thought it was just great and I would do it again whenever my budget allows.

Wednesday July 31

I went out with friends for cocktails last evening at an outdoor rooftop lounge and I felt more confident in being seen in daylight than I have for a long time. It looks and feels natural and I would definitely consider this treatment again.

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You might have been looking at yourself in the mirror lately and might not be too happy with the way your eyes have been looking. That hollowness you see could be heredity or it could be attributed to previous eye surgery.

Fat injections (from your own body) can be a simple solution to fill that space up and reduce the appearance of hollowness – without having to go under the knife.

Essentially, your plastic surgeon would take a small amount from your abdomen, inner thighs or hips and will transfer it to your upper eyelids and place it in the area that needs to be filled.

Contrarily to other fat transfer procedures, even if you are fairly thin, you’ll have enough fat to spare for this treatment.

Men and women who have undergone this procedure have experienced restored fullness to the upper eyelids and the appearance of an elevated brow.

This procedure will require some downtime. You’ll have to wait a good week before going back to work and during the recovery period, you’ll experience a lot of tenderness.

You can get further details on this procedure that can take years off of your face by consulting your plastic surgeon!

Photo by Kyle May

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Most people are fully aware that if they get surgery and they feel post-surgical pain or discomfort they should run (not walk) to their doctor’s office. Well, this also applies to non-cosmetic rejuvenation.

Since when you undergo non-cosmetic rejuvenation treatments, you are usually awake, you know fairly quickly if something is burning and feeling particularly painful.

You really don’t have (and should not) wait until you leave your cosmetic doctor’s office to raise the issue.

Since I’ve had a terrible experience with laser, I know more than anyone else of the importance of letting your voice be heard if things just don’t feel right. So if you are undergoing any laser treatments or facial peels and you experience a burning sensation that is painful, tell your cosmetic nurse or your cosmetic doctor immediately.

The heat emitted to perform laser hair removal produces is normal and you will feel a warming sensation, but the heat should not be unbearable, nor should it linger beyond a few seconds. If you still feel heat around the area that was treated after the procedure, you really need to report the situation so your cosmetic professionals can do what’s necessary to ease your discomfort.

The same goes for facial peels. You should report any feelings of discomfort or burning sensations. You will experience some redness after a facial peel, but there is “normal” redness and “abnormal” redness.

You are undergoing these treatments to look better. The last thing you want is to end up with wounds and bruises on your face.

Even though there are no cuts in non-cosmetic surgery, you still want to play it safe because you can end up with scars that you’ll have to undergo more treatments to remove.

Photo by Ximenatapia

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Since everyone and their grandmother has their own theory on what Botox is and what Botox is not, I thought I’d highlight some of the most prevalent myths and facts about Botox Cosmetic – the Botox that is used to treat wrinkles (not to be confused with Botox that is used to treat serious medical conditions).

I think one of the most damaging problems for the cosmetic enhancement industry is not women who go in to see their cosmetic doctor to help them control how they age, but it’s those few celebrities (who will remain nameless) who are addicted to Botox and fillers and who are so afraid that their face might actually reveal their age that they distort what we know about an anti-aging solution like Botox Cosmetic.

I hope these 8 myths and facts about Botox Cosmetic will help you get some of the answers you are looking for:

Myth #1: Botox Cosmetic is not safe; it is too new; not enough is known about it.

Fact: Botox Cosmetic is approved by Health Canada and has an 18-year safety history with use in millions of people worldwide. It is a purified protein and a medical prescription product, and has been used therapeutically for over 17 years to treat a variety of medical conditions.

Myth #2: Botox Cosmetic will leave you with a frozen face, or will give you an unnatural “startled” look.

Fact: Botox Cosmetic is a technique-sensitive procedure. When administered by an experienced physician, the results are natural and consumers will not lose the ability to show expression. Botox Cosmetic is used to soften wrinkles and gives natural-looking results. After treatments, consumers generally look more relaxed and youthful.

Myth #3: There are creams that are better than Botox Cosmetic.

Fact: There is no clinical evidence supporting that topical creams work better than Botox Cosmetic. Topical creams work well on the surface of the skin. Botox Cosmetic works below the surface of the skin to relax the muscles that cause lines to form.  In fact, a study published by American Society for Dermatologic Surgery compared Botox Cosmetic to three over-the-counter creams – StriVectin-SD, Wrinkle Relax, and HydroDerm. Botox Cosmetic demonstrated superior efficacy and patient satisfaction (source: Beer, Kenneth R. “Comparative Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin Type A and Topical Creams for Treating Moderate-to-Severe Glabellar Rhytids”. Dermatol Surg: 2006; 32:184-192).

Also, in a recent consumer report that tested the efficacy of some anti-wrinkle creams on the market, even the best performers reduced the average depth of wrinkles by only less than 10 per cent, a magnitude of change that was barely visible to the naked eye.  To boot, the luxury-priced skin-care offerings didn’t work any better than the drugstore brands.

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Myth #4: Botox Cosmetic is a filler.

Fact: Unlike fillers, Botox Cosmetic doesn’t fill in facial lines. Botox Cosmetic relaxes the muscles underneath the skin that cause frown lines between the eyebrows, crow’s-feet, and forehead wrinkles. Botox Cosmetic treatments around the eyes and forehead can be used in combination with dermal facial fillers (such as Juvéderm), which are used around the nose and mouth for total facial rejuvenation.

Myth #5: Botox Cosmetic is too expensive.

Fact: The cost of Botox Cosmetic typically ranges between $400 to $600 per injection – the price of a daily latte. In fact, Botox Cosmetic is comparable in cost to other beauty regimens, such as hair treatments, make-up and spa visits over the course of four months.

Myth #6: Botox Cosmetic is only for vain people.

Fact: Botox Cosmetic is an individual choice. A recent survey shows that people want to look like a more-refreshed and less-tired version of themselves as they age.

Myth #7: Botox Cosmetic can be administered by anyone in an aesthetic setting.

Fact: Botox Cosmetic should be administered by experienced aesthetic-specialty physicians, including plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and general practitioners with a specialty in aesthetics in appropriate medical settings.

Myth #8: Botox Cosmetic is only for old people.

Fact: Botox Cosmetic can be a part of anyone’s self enhancement plan.

Unless you are 100 per cent certain that the friends and contacts you are consulting about cosmetic enhancement are professionals, you might be wasting your time. Get your facts straight from the get go by consulting a reputable source. You’ll find loads more information about Botox and on cosmetic rejuvenation on FACE Institute’s web site.

Treatment “befores and afters”

Since a picture is equivalent to a thousand words, I think it’s always pretty cool to look at before and after shots. I’ve included these ones so you can see how non-surgical cosmetic rejuvenation can help you control the way you age:

If you want to see how you would look before and after a possible treatment, don’t forget that you can easily upload your own photo on
Face Institute’s Visualizer tool.

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In my previous post I talk about one of the major reasons that motivated men to seek the help of a cosmetic doctor. If you recall, Dr. Paul Cohen outlined the fact that men are quite concerned with how they are perceived at work and because of this reason, they tend to opt for popular procedures such as Botox Cosmetic® to soften any strong facial muscle that might make them look like they are on edge or worst constantly angry.

It’s important to keep in mind that although the previous post target men, there are a number of women who also have strong genetic facial muscles that makes them look unapproachable.

There is an interesting study that has been conducted by doctors Dr. Steven H. Dayan,  Elliot D. Lieberman,  Karen A. Larimer and Dr. Amy Anstead to actually prove how much of an impact strong facial muscle have on first impressions we make on people around them.

First impressions permeate every single aspect of our lives … from dating … to your profession … to how your kids teachers feel about talking to you about issues related to your kids’ education.

The conclusion of the study is particularly fascinating: “Botox® improved first impression scores for dating success, attractiveness, and athletic success scales”. Academic performance and occupational success scores were not affected by Botox® when the smile/relax variable was included. The smile/relax variable was a more important predictor for academic performance and occupational success scores.”

Do you want to see the first impression you might make after non-surgical cosmetic enhancement?

For those who are considering facial fillers, like Juvederm™, research shows that while women may want to lose their facial lines or enhance their features, they’re also just as concerned that the treatments will result in an unnatural appearance. A recent survey for example, showed that natural-looking results topped the list of desired outcomes for women when considering facial treatments or procedures (68 per cent). – Source Allergan Canada

For a lot of men and women considering non-surgical cosmetic rejuvenation treatments, looking natural can be a real concerned. To have a sneak peek at what you might look like after you’ve taken the plunge, you might want to take advantage of the FACE Institute’s Before and After Visualizer.

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The FACE Visualizer, a first of its kind online tool, allows you to upload your picture so you can create your own “before and after” picture and see the positive effects of treatments.

Top photo by Darkpatator