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Dianna G5 reasons to think twice about plastic surgery
September 23rd 2008 02:46
I can think of one way – Michael Jackson. But if the likes of Michael Jackson (well, all the Jackson clan really) and Jocelyn Wildenstein aren’t enough reasons to dissuade you, John Ewoldt of Star Tribune has asked dermatologists, plastic surgeons and cosmetics expert about 5 procedures and products that cost much less and are possibly more effective than a facelift.
Sunscreen
The most face-saving product, sunscreen protects the skin from aging before its time, not to mention it reduces the risks of skin cancer. People with lighter complexions should opt for at least 30 protection while others should go for 15 but all sunscreens should state they protect the skin against UVA and UVB rays.
A good skin regime
Cleansing, moisturising, protecting and correcting should be a part of your daily skin regime. You don’t have to go for high-end cleansers that promise everything with their extravagant price tag when Cetaphil for around AUD$10 a bottle is a gentle cleanser that works just fine and has been voted by many beauty experts as one of the best cleansers on the market. Choose fragrance-free moisturisers and, if possible, already come with sun protection and includes alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acids and antioxidants. Retin A is still considered most effective when reducing wrinkles, smoothing skin and stimulating collagen.
Chemical peels
Peels are effective in fading wrinkles, age spots and also stimulate collagen, taking 10 years off your face. There are 3 types of chemical peels -
AHA peels is a milder formula that require more sessions than the other two but are ideal for those who expect faster recovery. Each procedure takes only 10 minutes and without anesthesia. Following the treatment, there are some temporary inconveniences such as dryness, redness and skin flaking so best to lock yourself up in the house for a day or two – unless it’s Halloween.
TCA peels normally takes up to 15 minutes to apply and often requires a pre-treatment solution through AHA or Retin-A creams. It works on other areas such as the neck and, depending on your skin, your doctor may adjust the depth of surface peeling which may take more than one session. Temporary side-effects include mild stinging sensation, swelling and discomfort which should disappear within a week of the treatment.
Phenol peels are a more aggressive form of treatment and is not advisable for those with darker skin or people with heart ailments. A throbbing sensation will be felt during the treatment but a pain reliever is given to ease the discomfort. Redness all over the face may be experienced but should subside within 2 weeks. While the procedure takes at least an hour and recovery may last for more than a month, the effects are longer-lasting than the AHA and TCA peels.
Cost is appox AUD$130 per treatment (for a certain number of sessions) to AUD$500 or more. For more on chemical peels, click here.
Laser Treatment
Laser Treatments such as Laser Facial Resurfacing can remove wrinkles, tighten skin, even out skin discolouration, smooth rough skin and improve the look of acne and/or chicken pox scars. A laser is a beam of light radiation, delivering intense energy to specific problem areas of the skin, destroying the skin’s surface layer and exposing the dermis to stimulate the growth of new collagen fibres. As the wound heals, a softer, less wrinkled skin emerges. The treatment is usually done under local anesthetic and can last from a few minutes to at least an hour, depending on the size of the area being treated. After treatment, your face may be covered with antibiotic treatment and a dressing may be put on the treated area. Temporary side effects may include swollen skin that may ooze within 2 weeks of the treatment, skin redness that can last up to 12 weeks and scabs forming as part of the healing process.
Cost is $300-$1,200 per treatment. For more info, click here.
Botox
Botox will always have a bad connotation for me after seeing hundreds of frozen celebrity faces in magazines. It reduces lines on your face by blocking muscle contractions that cause wrinkles. Within a week of being injected with Botox, the lines and wrinkles on the face start to disappear but, because the nerve fibres eventually generate, the results last only between 3 to 6 months and repeated injections are required to maintain the effect. With continued use, the effects may start to last longer.
Cost : Doctors charge per unit with a typical botox treatment including 30 units at appox $AUD20-$26 per unit. For more info, click here.
Wacko Jackson in his plastic glory
The most face-saving product, sunscreen protects the skin from aging before its time, not to mention it reduces the risks of skin cancer. People with lighter complexions should opt for at least 30 protection while others should go for 15 but all sunscreens should state they protect the skin against UVA and UVB rays.
A good skin regime
Cleansing, moisturising, protecting and correcting should be a part of your daily skin regime. You don’t have to go for high-end cleansers that promise everything with their extravagant price tag when Cetaphil for around AUD$10 a bottle is a gentle cleanser that works just fine and has been voted by many beauty experts as one of the best cleansers on the market. Choose fragrance-free moisturisers and, if possible, already come with sun protection and includes alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acids and antioxidants. Retin A is still considered most effective when reducing wrinkles, smoothing skin and stimulating collagen.
Chemical peels
Peels are effective in fading wrinkles, age spots and also stimulate collagen, taking 10 years off your face. There are 3 types of chemical peels -
AHA peels is a milder formula that require more sessions than the other two but are ideal for those who expect faster recovery. Each procedure takes only 10 minutes and without anesthesia. Following the treatment, there are some temporary inconveniences such as dryness, redness and skin flaking so best to lock yourself up in the house for a day or two – unless it’s Halloween.
TCA peels normally takes up to 15 minutes to apply and often requires a pre-treatment solution through AHA or Retin-A creams. It works on other areas such as the neck and, depending on your skin, your doctor may adjust the depth of surface peeling which may take more than one session. Temporary side-effects include mild stinging sensation, swelling and discomfort which should disappear within a week of the treatment.
Phenol peels are a more aggressive form of treatment and is not advisable for those with darker skin or people with heart ailments. A throbbing sensation will be felt during the treatment but a pain reliever is given to ease the discomfort. Redness all over the face may be experienced but should subside within 2 weeks. While the procedure takes at least an hour and recovery may last for more than a month, the effects are longer-lasting than the AHA and TCA peels.
Cost is appox AUD$130 per treatment (for a certain number of sessions) to AUD$500 or more. For more on chemical peels, click here.
Laser Treatment
Laser Treatments such as Laser Facial Resurfacing can remove wrinkles, tighten skin, even out skin discolouration, smooth rough skin and improve the look of acne and/or chicken pox scars. A laser is a beam of light radiation, delivering intense energy to specific problem areas of the skin, destroying the skin’s surface layer and exposing the dermis to stimulate the growth of new collagen fibres. As the wound heals, a softer, less wrinkled skin emerges. The treatment is usually done under local anesthetic and can last from a few minutes to at least an hour, depending on the size of the area being treated. After treatment, your face may be covered with antibiotic treatment and a dressing may be put on the treated area. Temporary side effects may include swollen skin that may ooze within 2 weeks of the treatment, skin redness that can last up to 12 weeks and scabs forming as part of the healing process.
Cost is $300-$1,200 per treatment. For more info, click here.
Botox
Botox will always have a bad connotation for me after seeing hundreds of frozen celebrity faces in magazines. It reduces lines on your face by blocking muscle contractions that cause wrinkles. Within a week of being injected with Botox, the lines and wrinkles on the face start to disappear but, because the nerve fibres eventually generate, the results last only between 3 to 6 months and repeated injections are required to maintain the effect. With continued use, the effects may start to last longer.
Cost : Doctors charge per unit with a typical botox treatment including 30 units at appox $AUD20-$26 per unit. For more info, click here.
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