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.
Professional Beauty Treatments
Certain anti-aging beauty treatments -- think Botox, chemical peels, dermal fillers and laser resurfacing -- call for professionals. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons can offer these services, as well as medical spas. Before any treatment, get the facts on who will serve you and what the process involves. Learn more about professional beauty treatments with expert advice from Sharecare.
Recently Answered
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HealthyWomen answeredThe 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. -
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YouBeauty answeredTreat thinning lips with a simple solution: lip fillers!
Luckily, there’s no shortage of volumizers that can be injected into lips. But that’s only half the challenge.
Understanding the way the face ages is one of the key factors in successfully rejuvenating the perioral area, says Gregory Goodman, M.D., an associate professor at the Dermatology Institute of Victoria in Victoria, Australia. The aging of the lower face can be influenced by genetics and racial characteristics, and usually begins with the nose dropping back into the face and downward. As if that wasn’t enough, a change in the upper and lower jawbones causes the chin to tilt up. “These combined changes can lead to the well-known caricature of the chin meeting the nose in old age,” he told us.
So why should the chin and nose have any impact on your lips? One word: symmetry.
“Beautiful lips are certainly the ideal…but it must be kept within proportion to the rest of the face,” wrote Goodman in Cosmetic Dermatology. Age is also an important factor. “We are not trying to create a 25-year-old lip on a 55-year-old,” he says. “It would look inappropriate, no matter how well it’s achieved, since it would be out of synch with the rest of the face.”
We’ve all seen women with the accursed trout pout. This is what happens when practitioners inject too much product into the wrong parts of the lip. There’s an artistry involved in injections—the vermillion border around the lips and the cupid’s bow, the ratio of the top to bottom lip all must be preserved.
To bring the lips back into proper and natural-looking alignment, Goodman recommends using a neurotoxin (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin) around the mouth to focus it “back into a neutral relaxed position.” That, in combination with a filler to restore volume -- as well as consideration to the face’s overall symmetry—will lead to optimum results.
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RealAge answeredRisks 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
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HealthyWomen answeredInsurance 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.
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Dr. Tamara Fountain , Ophthalmology, answered on behalf of American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmartSee All 2 AnswersThere is a new prescription drug, Latisse (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03 percent by Allergan, which was recently approved by the FDA as safe and effective to help lengthen, thicken, and darken eyelashes. It has the same active ingredient, a prostaglandin analog, as a glaucoma drug, Lumigan (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03 percent, also made by Allergan. It was discovered that one of the side effects of Lumigan is increased eyelash length, darkening, and thickening. Other side effects include eye redness, irritation, and darkening of the skin of the eyelids, all of which are reversible upon cessation of drug. Darkening of the iris has also been reported, and this side effect is not reversible.
The FDA studies show that the most common adverse events (about 3 percent to 4 percent incidence) are itchiness of eyes, redness of eyes, and increased pigmentation. If you have an eye condition, such as glaucoma, macular edema, or eye inflammation, consult with your ophthalmologist or eye doctor before using Latisse.
Closely follow the instructions for use of the drug. If you have any concerns, the easiest thing to do is to see your ophthalmologist who can evaluate you to make sure you are a good candidate for Latisse as well as prescribe it.
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Dr. Tamara Fountain , Ophthalmology, answered on behalf of American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart
There are many causes of eyelash loss including infection, autoimmune disorders, thyroid trouble, trauma, and even cancer. Thinning of lashes can also happen with age. I would suggest you see your ophthalmologist or eye doctor. This person could ask you some questions and examine you thoroughly to understand the reason for your eyelash problem. Once your doctor knows the problem, you can begin treatment accordingly. Latisse is the only FDA-approved treatment proven to grow longer, darker, and thicker lashes. It takes two to four months to see any effects, and side effects can include darkening of surrounding skin and even the iris or colored part of your eye. You can talk more with your eye doctor whether this treatment is right for you.
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Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answeredWay 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. -
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredCortisol 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.
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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.