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Non-invasive
Cosmetic Treatments
Almost
9 million cosmetic procedures were performed last year in the US.
If you are thinking about having a cosmetic procedure it is important
to weigh the risks. You might consider opting for non-invasive cosmetic
treatments over the side effects, long recovery time and higher
risks of invasive surgical procedures
Here
are a few out-patient procedures that make up 65% of the cosmetic
treatments performed each year in the United States.
Botox Injections:
Botox injections are used often in the upper 1/3 of the face. Botox
is actually the toxin of botulinum bacteria, in sterilized
form, that paralyzes and relaxes muscles that cause the wrinkles.
It is best used for eliminating frown lines and crows feet. The
softening of the facial lines takes about a week. This treatment
usually requires 3 treatments in the first year. Side effects to
Botox are rare but can include droopy eyelids or recurring headaches.
The cost is about $400-$500 per treatment. It is considered safe
by the FDA. One of the potential problems with Botox injections
is that it may hinder natural facial movements like raising the
eyebrows that form normal facial expressions.
Collagen Injections: This treatment reduces the appearance
of fine lines and wrinkles. An allergy test is done first. Then
a local anesthetic is applied and the collagen, a protein in the
skin, is injected with a needle into fine lines and wrinkles around
the forehead, nose and mouth. The treatment typically lasts 2-4
months. The cost is around $300-$500 per treatment. Recovery takes
a few hours to a few days. Issues can include bruising or too-fast
reabsorption into the body.
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Chemical
Peels: Chemical peels are used to minimize fine lines
and promote a brighter skin appearance. Upper layers are removed
from the skin with the application of Glycolic acid, derived
from sugar or other acids to reduce wrinkles and uneven skin
pigmentation. There are two basic levels of chemical peels,
superfacial
peel and deep peel.
The superfacial peel removes only the upper layer and
initially requires one treatment per week for a month, then
every month thereafter. Recovery time include several days of
red skin, soreness and minor peeling. Recovery
time can take a few hours. The
deep peel goes deeper and results in more dramatic effects
and is only needed once a year. Deep
peels require sedation and time off from work for healing.
The recovery process requires pain medication, antibiotics,
compresses and ointments. The side effects are swelling, sunburn
like reaction, bruising, rawness and a longer healing time than
superfacial peel The cost is around $150 per treatment.
Microdermabrasion: This treatment improves the overall
appearance of skin texture on the face. The doctor uses a machine
to gently remove the top layer of cells with a gentle "sandblast"
of aluminum oxide crystals. This promotes collagen growth and
reduces the appearance of large pores. This requires one treatment
a week for a month, then possibly a redo every 6 to 8 weeks.
Side effects may include facial redness, soreness and swelling
for several days. The cost runs about $200. This procedure is
not recommended for dark skin. Recovery time can take a a few
days.
Laser Resurfacing: This procedure
uses laser light that vaporizes the upper levels of the skin
and tightens the collagen layer beneath. It is a popular technique
and takes about an hour. It minimizes scars, eliminates surface
wrinkles, evens pigmentation and is used for spot resurfacing
around the eyes and mouth. Depending on the depth of the laser
resurfacing, recovery time can take a week to four months. Risks
include scarring and uneven pigmentation, particularly on darker
skin.
Laser Removal: Laser light can
also be used to remove various types of skin problems such as
age spots, liver spots, tattoos, scars, birthmarks, facial veins,
spider veins and broken capillaries. Recovery time is a few
hours to a few weeks, depending on the type of laser and area
treated.
Tatoo
removal can take 2-3 or 6-10 sessions depending on the density
of the tattoo at a cost of $400-$600 per session. Potential
problems with laser removal include uneven pigmentation and
skin texture.
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Dark Circles and Age Spots
Basic
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Tips; Skin Vitamins and Cellulite
Anti-aging
Tips; Sun and Skin Care
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Nutrition
and Fad Diets
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All
cosmetic procedures have risks but if you choose to go that route,
always work with a licensed, experienced dermatologists or cosmetic
surgeon in a physician setting.
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Thermage:
Thermage is
one of the newest FDA approved, non-invasive cosmetics treatment
that reduces wrinkles and tightens skin with the use of computer
controlled radio frequency energy. This treatment is used to reduce
wrinkles and sags around the forehead, eyes, lower face and neck.
The treatment heats the dermis, contracting the collagen, while
protecting the epidermis. This process encourages collagen production
over time. The procedure includes the application of an anesthetic
cream or other skin numbing preparation about 1 hour before the
treatment to minimize discomfort. The procedure usually takes
1-2 sessions and 15-60 minutes per session, depending on the size
of the area treated. Redness can last 1-2 days and, if swelling
occurs, it can last 3-7 days. Typically the more redness and swelling
the better the results. Heat-related complications such as burn,
blistering and scarring can occur but are rare. Some people experience
tingling, burning or soreness after the treatment for a few days
or weeks, especially along the jaw line. Some results see a big
difference and others don't. Results show up in 2-6 months and
can last 18 months to several years, depending on an individual’s
rate of aging. Depending on how much of the face is treated, costs
can range from $1,800 to $5,000. A partial treatment (forehead,
cheeks or neck) is $1000 to $3000.
Fat
Transplants: This procedure involves
injecting tissue from one part of your body into another to plump
specific areas, such as facial creases, lips, frown and smile
lines and recessed scar areas. Using your own body tissue reduces
the chance of an allergic reaction and the results can last for
as long as six months. Only 10-20% of the
relocated tissue may remain in place, requiring
several injections to get a lasting, desired result. Recovery
is one to two days. Potential issues are imperfect placement and
the need for frequent touchups.
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