6.
BOTOX – THE “FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH”
Botox injections are the fastest-growing cosmetic procedure in the United States and are effective at temporarily reducing or eliminating frown lines, “crow’s feet” around the eyes, forehead creases, other facial lines and thick bands around the neck (“turkey neck”), giving the face and neck a smoother and more youthful appearance. The major advantage of Botox apart from its effectiveness is that, unlike many other cosmetic procedures, it is non-invasive, relatively painless, and requires little or no “down time” (recovery time).
Botox, which is a type of toxin, works by being injected into and temporarily paralyzing the muscles in the face, preventing them from contracting, thus smoothing out the underlying skin and preventing new lines from being formed. The procedure is carried out in the cosmetic surgeon’s office and no anesthetic is necessary. The cosmetic surgeon will ask the patient to make a number of facial expressions (“smile”, “frown”) in order to determine which muscles in the face or neck need to be injected and will then apply a local numbing agent and proceed to make a series of small injections into specific muscles using a narrow gauge needle. The injections are mildly uncomfortable and are usually no more painful than a slight pin-prick. Patients can return to work immediately afterwards and the procedure can even be carried out during a lunch break.
Once injected, the muscles become inactive and cannot scrunch up so that the skin and any existing frown lines are smoothed out and, within a few hours to a couple of days, become largely invisible. Improvement can be seen within 24 hours and the Botox will continue to take effect over the next 5 days. The effects are unfortunately not permanent. And, after about 3 to 4 months, the muscles begin to recover some of their original strength and the lines will begin to reappear, though they should not be as pronounced as before. The procedure therefore needs to be repeated at least once every 6 months.
There are no reported long-term side effects of Botox injections and there is no risk of contracting botulism. Botox has not been shown to permanently change the muscles. However, possible side-effects include temporary bruising, drooping eyelids (ptosis) and double vision (diplopia) if too much of the toxin is injected or if it is injected into the wrong area. It is therefore advisable to have the injections administered by an experienced cosmetic surgeon. Other less commonly reported side-effects are headaches, respiratory infection, flu, nausea, pain in the face, redness at the injection site and muscle weakness. The injections should not be carried out on pregnant women or people who have nervous system diseases like ALS.
The cost of Botox treatment varies between $200 and $500, depending on the extent of the area treated and by whom it is carried out.
The FDA recommends that Botox injections be administered not more than once every 3 months and that the minimum effective dose should be administered. Botox injections have been used since 1989 to treat a variety of medical conditions and were first approved for cosmetic use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002.
7.MICRODERMABRASION – IT’S A MOUTHFUL BUT IT’S THE QUICKEST AND CHEAPEST ROUTE TO A NEW SKIN
Microdermabrasion is a skin-freshening technique which is much less costly and less invasive than other skin-freshening procedures like laser surgery, chemical peels and Botox. It has become extremely popular as it is painless, there is little “down-time” and it produces excellent results. Microdermabrasion is particularly effective in treating winkles, fine lines, age/sun spots, hyperpigmentation, enlarged pores and blackheads, mild acne, acne scarring and stretch marks. It works by removing the outermost layer of dead skin cells which is home to many signs of ageing such as fine wrinkles, blemishes and sun damage. Once removed, the body then replaces these cells with new and healthy ones, giving the skin a smooth, glowing and youthful-looking appearance. Collagen production is also stimulated.
The procedure, which lasts from 30 to 60 minutes depending on the extent of the area which is treated, is not painful and no anesthetic is required. No medical supervision is required. Goggles are placed over the eyes to protect them and the skin is cleansed. The therapist then uses a hand-held device which is similar to a fine sandblaster to spray a stream of tiny crystals across the face, removing the outermost layer of the skin. At the same time, a vacuum pump attached to the device collects the used crystals and dead skin cells. The therapist slowly and steadily moves the device over the target area. The therapist can vary the pressure to control the amount of penetration or pass over an area several times to remove the most damaged skin. Once the abrasion is completed, the therapist then applies moisturizing creams, which are able to penetrate the skin more easily after the stratum corneum has been removed.
There may be slight redness and mild swelling for the first few minutes or hours after the treatment (depending on the individual) but this will fade quickly and, at worst, people have reported no more discomfort than a mild sunburn. Some people even describe the tingling sensation as being pleasant. There is no “down time” and the treatment can be carried out during a lunch-hour.
The results are a skin that feels smoother and a drastic reduction in signs of sun damage, blemishes and fine lines. Results are normally visible after one or two treatments, although more than one treatment is normally required. Depending on the amount and nature of the treatment required, the therapist will recommend a treatment plan of 4 to 8 sessions, scheduled approximately two weeks apart. Once the full course has been completed, maintenance treatments should be carried out once every 3 months thereafter.
Home microdermabrasion kits are also available. They consist of creams and scrubs which contain the same crystals, but which are applied by hand to the face and neck area and so no specialized device is required. These creams and scrubs also contain additional nutrients and moisturizers to hydrate the skin after the dead cells have been removed.
The procedure costs between $75 and $200 if done professionally in a salon. Home kits cost between $15 and $200.
There is very little risk involved as the procedure is non-invasive. It is effective on all skin types and colors. However, there are certain categories of person for whom Microdermabrasion is not recommended: pregnant or nursing women, patients who have been on accutane in the past 6 months, people with active weeping acne, people with unstable diabetes, people with auto-immune system disorders, people suffering from active herpes lesions, malignant tumors, keratosis, active rosacea and people on Retin A. Skin that has been overexposed to the sun or to recent glycolic acid or lactic acid peels and which is therefore overly sensitive should not be treated. Although it is a low-risk procedure, if the machine is used at high power, there are risks of hyperpigmentation, perforation, bleeding and infection. Infection can also occur if the machine has not been properly sterilized. Therefore always make sure that the procedure is carried out by a trained and qualified technician.
Microdermabrasion was developed in Italy in 1987 and was used widely in Europe before becoming popular in the United States.
8.LAZER SKIN RESURFACING
Laser skin resurfacing is a method whereby a laser is used to remove damaged or wrinkled skin, layer by layer. It is highly effective compared to other resurfacing methods at treating fine to moderate wrinkles around the eyes, mouth and forehead, liver spots and age pots, uneven skin tone and pigmentation, sun-damaged skin, facial scars and acne or chickenpox scars. It tightens the skin’s collagen fibers, restoring elasticity and can have dramatic results, making patients look much younger . Results can last for up to ten years.
The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. The patient is given a local anesthetic and an orally or intravenously administered sedative. A laser is then passed over the skin, sending out short light energy pulses or continuous light beams, which vaporize and remove thin layers of skin. Each pulse lasts less than a millisecond. Between pulses with the laser, the skin will be wiped with water or a saline solution to cool the skin and remove tissue that the laser has destroyed. The number of passes depends on how large the area is and what type of skin is being treated. The laser destroys the outer layer of skin (epidermis) and heats the underlying skin (dermis), which stimulates the growth of new collagen fibers. As the wound heals, new skin forms that is smoother and tighter. During treatment, the laser may sting or burn and the patient may feel a slapping sensation against the skin. Immediately after the treatment, the patient may experience mild swelling and discomfort, itching, a sunburn-like sensation. An ointment and dressing are applied to the skin. Partial face laser abrasion takes 30 to 45 minutes while full-face treatment takes 1.5 to 2 hours.
The recovery period is 10 to 21 days. During the first two weeks, you will have to stay at home and keep physical exertion to a minimum. The skin will remain pink to red for at least several days after treatment and cold-packs and anti-inflammatories may help to reduce swelling and pain. The patient must clean the treated areas 2 to 5 times a day with saline or dilute vinegar solutions and protective creams and oils are then applied to keep the skin moist and prevent any scab formation.
About 5 to 7 days after laser resurfacing, the skin will become dry and peel. New skin will form, which will appear pink and will lighten for up to a year after treatment. After about two weeks, make-up can be used to camouflage the pink to red color (green-based make-up is advised). The redness normally fades within 2 to 3 months, though it may take as long as 9 months to disappear. Several follow-up visits to the doctor will be needed to monitor progress. Skin will be sensitive to sunlight and it is important to minimize sun exposure and use sunscreen liberally. Daily sunscreen is necessary to protect the newly laser-resurfaced skin. Over the next 12 months, patients will continue to see a continued improvement. Although the effects can last for years, wrinkles and expression lines eventually recur as skin ages and repeat procedures may be necessary.
Two different types of lasers may be used: CO2 is the most
powerful, used for deep wrinkles, and Erbium:YAG (Er:YAG) is gentler than CO2 and effective for mild wrinkles. Sometimes a combination of both methods is used.
Possible complications include milia, hyperpigmentation, cold sores, bacterial infections and swelling.
9.FRAXEL
Fraxel claims to provide the same improvements as CO2 laser resurfacing but without the side effects and down-time. It is a relatively new form of laser therapy which, unlike laser skin resurfacing, does not remove the outer layer of skin but instead creates tiny microscopic wounds in the skin surrounded by areas of healthy, unaffected tissue. The healthy tissue promotes rapid healing of the other skin layer while energy penetrates deep into the dermis, stimulating the production of collagen. The treatment has been compared to the restoration of a photo or a painting, bit by bit, and pixel by pixel, the damaged area is transformed as the skin is revitalized. Fraxel significantly reduces fine lines and wrinkles, rejuvenates skin, reduces age spots and blotchy skin coloring, improves fine to moderate lines around the eyes, lips and forehead and reduces hyperpigmentation and improves melasma.
Unlike normal laser surgery, fraxel is not limited to use on the face and can also be used on other areas of the body such as the neck, chest and hands, even in the treatment of stretch marks.
The treatment is carried out in the doctor’s office and only a topical anesthetic is necessary, applied about an hour before the treatment. The doctor cleanses the skin and then applies a blue tint, which highlights the tiny folds in the skin’s surface to increase contrast, allowing the robotic hand piece to map the contours of the treatment area as it glides across the skin. Fraxel produces thousands of deep, tiny columns in the skin, known as microthermal treatment zones, which penetrate deep into the dermis. By creating microscopic “wounds” within the targeted areas well beneath the outermost epidermal layer of skin, fraxel treatments trigger the body’s natural healing process accelerating the production of collagen and new healthy skin cells. The blue tint and anesthetic are washed off immediately after treatment. The procedure lasts approximately 20 to 40 minutes and can last up to 80 minutes
After the treatment, a mild sunburn sensation will be felt for about an hour. Side effects involve swelling and redness. The swelling should subside within 2 to 3 days. The skin will have a pinkish tone which should subside within 5 to 7 days. Patients have reported returning to work the next day., though Friday afternoon treatments may be advisable.Within 24 hours, the new epidermal skin will start to develop and skin repair will begin. The skin will turn a bronze appearance for anything between 3-14 days. Flaking then occurs, similar to the flaking after sunburn. It is essential to use adequate skin protection and to avoid the sun for at least 3 months after treatment. It is essential to use a moisturizer daily and adequate skin protection and to avoid the sun for at least 3 months after treatment.
Results are immediate and improve over time, with improvement usually visible in about 2 to 3 months and gradual improvement for up to a year. Although some results may be seen after just one treatment, at least three treatments are usually required for optimal results. Treatment plans are flexible but an effective treatment plan is normally 3 to 5 sessions, spread between 2 to 4 weeks apart.
The possible side effects include scabbing, blisters and changes in skin color can occasionally occur.
10.HAVE MORE SEX!
According to a recent study carried out by Scottish researchers, an active sex life can make you look up to 7 years younger. The benefits of sex include the following:
1.It acts as a significant stress-reliever, releasing endorphins and other feel-good hormones. It releases substances in the brain that are natural painkillers and eliminate anxiety. The sense of touch and emotional intimacy can lead to a greater sense of contentment.
2.It aids better sleep.
3.It leads to an increase in testosterone output.
4.Vigorous sexual intercourse triggers a small release of human growth hormone, reducing fatty tissue and increasing lean muscle and giving a more youthful appearance.
5.It leads to improved circulation, bone strength and immune-system functions.
6.It dilates arteries, sending blood to the surface of the skin. Have it often enough and arteries will remain supple, slowing the ageing process.
7.It increases t supply of oxygen to the cells and stimulates the activity of various organs and systems within the body.
8.Depending on your level of enthusiasm, you can burn off a lot of calories. Sex is a form of physical exercise and, if vigorously maintained throughout the year, will have the calorie-burning equivalent of jogging 75 miles.
9.During sex, DHEA is secreted throughout the body. During orgasms or just before ejaculation, the level of DHEAN in the bloodstream is five times its normal level. This steroid secreted by the adrenal cortex is the major androgen in females. It is also present in males. High levels of DHEA have been associated with longevity, enhanced libido, building muscle mass and warding off depression,
