According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, over 11.5 million surgical and non-surgical procedures were performed during the year 2006 in the United States alone.

Here are the top five of each type of method, surgical and non-surgical.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Procedures

1. Liposuction – 403,684
2. Breast augmentation – 383,886
3. Eyelid surgery – 209,999
4. Abdominoplasty – 172,457
5. Breast Reduction – 145,822

Cosmetic Non-Surgical Procedures

1. Botox – 3.1 million
2. Hyaluronic Acid – such as Hylaform, Restylane – 1.5 million
3. Laser hair removal – 1.4 million
4. Microdermabrasion – 993,071
5. Laser Skin Resurfacing – 556,172

I will be on the lookout for the statistics for 2007 when they are published next year. I wonder if the numbers will rise.

What do you think?

Post from: Aging Fabulous

Check it out over on Podcast Alley!

Ask the Expert is my new weekly podcast, which will air every Friday. In each Ask the Expert episode, I will answer one of your aging/anti-aging questions. The episodes are short, sweet, and to the point, and will each average just 3 – 5 minutes.

If you don’t know what a Podcast is, it is simply an episode in which you listen, whether it be on your computer or iPod. All you do is listen and enjoy.

Feel free to e-mail your burning anti-aging or beauty questions to: teri.cosenzi@b5media.com and please use the subject; Ask the Expert!

Post from: Aging Fabulous

Renée Rouleau’s Instant Line Filler with Vitamin C ($62.50) instantly blurs and fades the look of lines and wrinkles. This Instant Line Filler visibly remodels skin for a more youthful appearance.

Like I said, this Instant Line Filler is the injection-free, answer to visibly smoother, less lined skin. It uses dehydrated Hyaluronic Filling Spheres that resemble tiny micro-sponges. When applied to the surface of the skin, they enter into the lines and wrinkles and penetrate the upper layers of the epidermis. The Hyaluronic Filling Spheres rehydrate with the water in skin, plumping up lines and wrinkles, making them less noticeable.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best products I have used to smooth my lines. You have heard seeing is believing, and this surely is!

Post from: Aging Fabulous

I have read rave reviews of Juvéderm™, with most users being pleased with both the smooth look they get and the longer lasting results.

Unlike BOTOX® Cosmetic, Juvéderm™ is a gel made of hylauronic acid that provides volume under the skin, in a sense filling in the lines. Whereas BOTOX® Cosmetic, freezes or relaxes the muscles to relax deeper lines.

From the official Juvéderm™ website, here is their description:

As we age, our skin changes. Over time, the natural volume of youthful skin begins to diminish as wrinkles and folds form. But, with Juvéderm™ injectable gel, you don’t have to just sit back and let it happen! Recently approved by the FDA, Juvéderm™ injectable gel is a “next-generation” dermal filler. The smooth consistency gel helps to instantly restore your skin’s volume and smooth away facial wrinkles and folds, like your “smile lines” or “parentheses” (nasolabial folds—the creases that run from the bottom of your nose to the corners of your mouth).

Juvéderm™ is a smooth consistency gel made of hyaluronic acid—a naturally occurring substance in your skin that helps to add volume and hydration. Your healthcare professional eases Juvéderm™ injectable gel under the skin to provide a smooth, natural look and feel—so everyone will notice (but no one will know)! In fact, studies show superior results of Juvéderm™ compared to a collagen-based dermal filler.* And, almost 90% of all study volunteers who were treated with both Juvéderm™ injectable gel and another dermal filler* preferred Juvéderm™! In addition, Juvéderm™ injectable gel is the first FDA-approved hyaluronic acid dermal filler that is proven to be safe and effective for persons of color.

The procedure, performed in a physicians office, lasts just about 15 minutes. The results last most users 6 months or more. The average cost per treatment is anywhere from $350 – $500.

If you have used Juvéderm™, please share your results. We promise to keep your name and any personal information confidential, and will only share your experience.

Post from: Aging Fabulous

With the recent plastic surgery sudden increase in the United States, prospective patients looking to enhance their appearance are going to great lengths to get the surgery,and many look for bargain prices.

Today, cosmetic surgery is a booming business in places like Mexico, Latin America, and Europe where their low prices are the main draw. Dr. Salzhauer is aware of the dangers of foreign cosmetic surgery versus the safer and regulated surgical environment commonly found in the United States.

He told me how each year, thousands of prospective patients bargain hunt for plastic surgeons in foreign destinations – price being the main attraction. But we all wonder what risks the patients really taking to save a little extra cash when going under the knife?

The Dr. explains, “a bargain at the outset could result in more money spent on revision surgery or fatally worse, death or disfigurement at the hands of an incompetent surgeon or in a compromised surgical setting. Despite the warnings, people continue to sign up for bargain plastic surgery vacations.”

He continues, “patients may take unnecessary risks, when choosing to go outside of the U.S. for cosmetic surgery, by unknowingly selecting unqualified physicians and having procedures performed in non-accredited surgical facilities. It’s unfortunate that there are some surgeons who are in this profession for the business and not for the patient’s well-being. I have seen and re-operated on almost all cases of botched up plastic surgeries,” said Dr. Salzhauer. He went on to say, “From implants that look as if they were crudely fashioned to those that have become infected or dislocated and have to be removed, to botched facelift, eyelid and nasal surgery, and even liposuction with results ranging from poor to non-existent including incisions placed in bizarre places. Patients put their trust in our hands and it’s our responsibility to always provide the best and safest care possible.”

I had a few questions for Dr. Salzhauer:
What separates the standards in the United States from those of the other countries? According to Salzhauer, “in the U.S., there is a plastic surgery standard that is higher than anywhere else in the world. This includes a high level of sterility, the quality of the technological or surgical equipment, and most important of all, a surgeon’s training. Foreign countries often have neither the money nor the resources to have a generalized standard of care. Contrast this with the U.S. where we have no shortage of patient advocates and medical and state boards which ensure doctors are adhering to specific guidelines.”

Does this mean that plastic surgery in foreign countries is uniformly dangerous? “Certainly not,” says Dr. Salzhauer. “In most countries, one can find qualified plastic surgeon and expect successful results. However, these are not usually the places that offer bargains.”

What accounts for the discrepancy in foreign versus domestic cosmetic surgery? “Hospitals in America go to great lengths to make sure the doctors who are granted affiliation or surgical privileges are trained and board certified in the sub-specialty in which they are practicing. In addition, doctors in large American cities must remain incredibly competitive as far as their knowledge and skill. It would therefore be much less likely for a patient in the U.S. to have problematic results. Post operative care is also a crucial element of plastic surgery. This is another major red flag associated with foreign plastic surgeries. Even if a patient has excellent results at the time of their surgery, if certain are not properly identified, they can lead to an unsatisfactory final result.” Dr. Salzhauer stresses, “The most important aspect of surgery is not only the surgery itself, but the frequency and thoroughness of follow up visits and post-operative care.” He adds that “patients need to be advised when they can resume activities such as work and exercise, therefore, it is essential that a patient’s doctor is accessible, which is a challenge for surgeons in other countries.

As Dr. Salzhauer explains “an additional danger patients run into when having surgery performed in a foreign facility is that often, facilities abroad designed for elective surgery are run more like clinics rather than actual hospitals. Usually the surgery is performed in conjunction with another doctor who may or may not be certified in the same specialty. There may not even be qualification boards in that country.” As Dr. Salzhauer points out, “when a patient sees a doctor in private practice, as here in America, that surgeon — plastic or otherwise — obviously has a more principle responsibility for the well being of the patient. In a clinic, there is often no single doctor who is responsible to handle problems that arise.”

What recourse does a patient have as a result of botched surgeries in a foreign country? “Little if any,” reports Dr. Salzhauer. “There may be no venue for legal recourse for a patient encountering a problem as a result of sub-standard care in a foreign country. Geographic distance would render legal action both costly and inconvenient. The patient originally seeking a bargain will wind up spending even more money, not to mention the time and effort involved.”

Great advice!

To learn more information on Dr. Salzhauer or his practice, please visit Bal Harbour Surgery

Post from: Aging Fabulous

Here is the link to the video: Today Show.

A few things I picked up from the segment:
$664,000,000 dollars were spend on anti-aging creams last year – WOW!
$66 is the average price of an anti-aging skin cream – WOW, again!

Please note that Matt Lauer says that Boots No. 7 Protect & Perfect is not available in the United States. No the Protect & Perfect Serum is not, you see they have renamed it for distribution here in the United States. It is named Boots No. 7 Restore & Renew Beauty Serum.

Restore & Renew Beauty Serum is currently sold out at online at CVS and Target, but that is where it is distributed in the United States. You’ll have to just keep checking the stores with the rest of us.

By the way, I have confirmed all of this information with the Boots PR people just yesterday. I am sure that they wished the Today Show had too!

Post from: Aging Fabulous

I had a collagen infused facial last week, and I learned a lot about how collagen works and how scientists are trying to create formulas for collagen in order for it to more benefit the skin.

When collagen is added in whole form in a cream, it does hold a lot of moisture in, so it is not a bad ingredient. It is great for locking in the moisture as I said making moisturizing claims true, but it simply will not strengthen your skin when used in this way.

Large skin care companies are starting to use partially hydrolyzed collagen,where collagen is ground up into such tiny fragments that a small amount of collagen can actually penetrate the skin. This is creating a bit of controversy though, as some skin care specialists think that the broken down fragments are too small to mesh into the collagen that is already in our skin. This would make the process (which is expensive, so it in turn makes the creams expensive) worthless.

There is some exciting new technology that should be able to deliver full-size collagen deep into the skin via topical application. The question is will it work by simply applying it to the skin, and will it actually mesh with the skin owns collagen enough to be beneficial.

For now, when you see that collagen is used in a skin cream be wary of it’s claims. I am on the side of believers that collagen cannot penetrate the skin enough to be beneficial in topical form. I can’t wait to see what technology and the future brings though, as a topically applied collagen could be a huge anti-aging success.

Post from: Aging Fabulous

Now, I will tell you that the cream I purchased for $1 was awful, and that the luxurious La Creme was amazing. La Creme did wonders for my skin, but not enough for me to keep using at such an extreme price. Maybe my expectations were too high.

I hear about so many that swear by Creme de La Mer that retails for around $100 for 1 oz. I haven’t had the chance to try anything from La Mer yet, and wonder if the “wondrous miracles” it professes ring true.

My miracle cream of the moment is StriVectin-SD. StriVectin-SD retails for $135 of a 6 oz. tube, which seems more reasonable than most of the other luxurious creams. And it is certainly not marketed as a luxurious cream. Just a miracle cream.

Do you have a miracle cream that you swear by? And how much would you pay for your ultimate miracle cream.

Post from: Aging Fabulous

You see it on the shelves at your drugstore. But have you looked deep into Aveeno. I swear this line is worthy of a department store. And they recently launched two new products in their Positively Ageless line. It consists of a Rejuvenating Serum and Night Cream.

Both of these treatments are formulated with a natural Shiitake Complex. This complex self adjusts to everyone’s unique skins chemistry to visibly reduce the signs of aging. You see, everyone’s skin has a unique pattern of aging – almost like a fingerprint. So self-adjusting anti-aging treatments just may be the answer to younger-looking skin.

The Positively Ageless Rejuvenating Serum should be used daily to accelerate cell renewal. The silky fluid absorbs quickly and is designed to be used in addition to your existing skin care routines. This retails for $19.99

The Positively Ageless Night Cream goes beyond moisturization to help reduce the signs of aging. While you sleep, this cream will work to help accelerate the skins cell renewal process as well. It absorbs quickly, and leaves skin feeling smooth too. This retails for $19.99.

There are more products in Aveeno’s Positively Ageless line including a Daily Exfoliating Cleanser and Daily Moisturizer.

Post from: Aging Fabulous

One microdermabrasion product I have been using, has been put to the test. And form my few weeks of results, I believe that it is working.

I have been using the Daily Microdermabrasion Cleansing Disks from RoC – and I have fallen for these. These discs go way beyond normal cleansing by providing results similar to microdermabrasion. But it is done with one simple dual-sided disk. Each disk features a unique cleansing technology to deliver the anti-aging results we want.

As I said, the disks are dual sided. One side, is the exfoliating side. This side is ridged containing micro-crystals that provide a gentle microdermabrasion-like action that not only wipes away dead skin cells, but it cleanses the skin as it does that. The second side, is the conditioning side. This side has a diamond pattern on it, and this helps to remove the excess dirt and oil from the skin, while it leaves behind a moisturizing blend to help keep the skin soft and smooth.

It is so easy to use by just putting your fingers in the pocket and running it under water. I use the exfoliating side first in light circular motions over my entire face, and then follow with the conditioning side.

Overall, these disks simplify my cleansing routine, and do ore then just cleanse. My skin looks better and feels so much smoother since I started using them.

RoC products can be found at drugstores nationwide and drugstore.com for $9.99.

Post from: Aging Fabulous