Professional Beauty Treatments

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• QWho is most likely to have a nonsurgical cosmetic procedure?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  Both surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures are not just for the very rich anymore. A 2009 survey of 687 members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) found that the typical person who opts for injectables and/or fillers for her face is a working, married woman between the ages of 40 and 55 with one to three children. Nearly half had total household incomes under $100,000. Their main reason for the procedures? To look more relaxed, less stressed and rejuvenated.
• QHow much do dermal fillers cost?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  The average cost for treatment with dermal fillers is $1,000. You pay for dermal fillers by the syringe. Because several syringes may be required, ask your doctor for an estimated total cost before beginning your treatment. Costs vary based on geographic region and type of filler. Insurance rarely, if ever, covers the cost of cosmetic treatments.
• QWhat are the risks of laser resurfacing?

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  A RealAge answered

  Risks of laser resurfacing, a procedure that uses a laser to remove fine wrinkles, age spots and other minor facial flaws, may include:

  • acne flares
  • bacterial infection. Your doctor may recommend taking an antibiotic before and after the procedure
  • cold sores if you are prone to getting them. Tell your doctor about your history of cold sores (oral herpes), before having laser resurfacing. You can minimize this risk by taking an antiviral medication before and after the procedure
  • change in skin color. Skin in the treated area may look darker or lighter than the skin around it
  • milia. These small white bumps may appear during healing. They can be removed by gentle cleansing with a washcloth
  • prolonged redness
  • scarring. This is rare, but possible
  • swelling. If you are having laser skin resurfacing around your eyes, your doctor may prescribe oral steroids to manage this swelling
• QDoes insurance cover cosmetic treatments?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  Insurance rarely, if ever, covers the cost of cosmetic treatments. Unlike a health problem or medical condition, nonsurgical aesthetic treatments are entirely optional. You don't have to fill in those wrinkles, erase those broken blood vessels or minimize that redness. You do it because you want to.
• QHow do saunas help remove toxins from the body?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Saunas do more than just help you relax; they help clear toxins from your body. It's done not only through the predictable means—the sweat—but because the forced constriction and dilation of blood vessels that happens when you go into and out of the heat releases the chemical nitric oxide.

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• QWhat evolutionary purpose does beauty serve?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Way back when—before we could decode your genome, use fertility tests to determine when you're ovulating, and order MRIs to see what is going on with your liver—humans learned to use beauty as a serious assessment of a partner's potential health. Back then, beauty was the best way to determine that—and in a tenth of a second, mind you.
  
  That's why beauty became very serious business—as in, survival-of-the-species serious. When we think about survival of the species (living long enough to pass your genes on to the next generation), it's natural to emphasize the survival part of the equation. But when it comes down to a choice between surviving and breeding, breeding often wins. (Think of male grizzlies fighting to the death for a mate.) Considering the stakes, you'd better be sure that the object of your affection (that man with those magnificent abs) is worthy of the effort to attract him.
  
  Our brains became hardwired to search for certain traits in our mate, so we soon learned to consider those traits—a certain curvy body shape, full lips, thick hair, healthy teeth, on and on—as beautiful. And, with relatively few variations since time untold, so it remains.
• QDoes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration test cosmetics?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not monitor or test cosmetics before they are sold to consumers. However, according to the U.S. Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act, certain measures are taken to protect cosmetics users, including a requirement that all ingredients be safe and effective (or labeled such that safety is unknown). For example, it does require that the information found on labels must be accurate and truthful, including what the product is, the ingredients, directions for use and the name of the manufacturer. Also, cosmetics manufacturers are only allowed to use color additives that are FDA-approved.

• QWhat's the easiest way to improve my skin texture?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Keeping skin hydrated can improve its surface texture and appearance, so use a mild cleanser to avoid stripping skin's natural moisture. Follow up with a lotion each time you wash, as this can help replenish moisture that's lost and keep skin looking smooth and healthy. Another step is to wear sunscreen. Sun damage can affect your skin texture. By wearing sunscreen and avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun, you can prevent sun damage.

• QHow are hormones related to wrinkles and worries?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Cortisol is a hormone that is involved in the effects of aging on the body, including thinning of the skin. It increases when we are stressed out. If stress and cortisol levels remain elevated for long periods of time, that thinning skin may result in wrinkles.

• QWhat are resurfacing treatments?

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  A RealAge answered

  One of the ways to treat wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars, and uneven skin tone is to remove several layers of damaged skin, allowing new, healthier-looking skin to emerge. Procedures designed for this purpose include the following:
  

  • Chemical peels involve the application of a chemical solution to the face that dissolves surface layers of the epidermis. Chemical peels are currently available in three strengths:

  Alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) peels are the mildest and are used to remove superficial layers of skin.
  
  Trichloracetic acid (TCA) is a stronger preparation that removes deeper layers of skin.
  
  Phenol peels are the strongest of the three and are used to remove deep scars, wrinkles, and skin imperfections.
  

  • Dermabrasion involves removing several layers of epidermal skin using an abrasive tool.
  • Laser resurfacing involves using a carbon dioxide laser to treat wrinkles and smooth out facial skin.

  Some skin resurfacing treatments are outpatient procedures; others may require hospitalization. However, each procedure carries unique health risks. Patients should discuss the risks and benefits thoroughly with their healthcare provider.

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