BEAUTY & GLAM
QUICK FIXES WITHOUT THE DOWNTIME
Nonsurgical procedures offer noticeable results
By RHONDA SHRUM
Aging may be a natural process, but let’s face it, nobody
wants to actually look like they’re getting older. Though
many women (and increasingly men) want to subtly
improve their appearance, the idea of surgery can be
daunting. Not only is there considerable downtime, but
also the possibility of embarrassment if you would like
to keep cosmetic habits private. Quick, nonsurgical
procedures that can often be completed on a long lunch
hour are a hot trend among those who like to look fresh,
but keep the downtime to a minimum.
BOTOX and Dermal Fillers:
As we age, we naturally lose volume in the face. Those
cheeks that we lamented for being too round in youth
can appear shallow in middle age, making us look even
older than we are.
For the patient that wants to restore that youthful
fullness and reduce the appearance of deep lines (think
of those curved smile lines that adorn your mouth),
or puff up a pout, dermal fillers like JUVÉDERM are a
fantastic option, especially when combined with BOTOX.
For fine lines and wrinkles, a neurotoxin is in order. FDAapproved for fine lines on the forehead and crow’s feet
around the eyes, BOTOX was the number one minimally
invasive procedure performed by plastic surgeons in
2012, according to the 2012 Plastic Surgery Statistics
Report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The
treatment is both safe and effective, providing patients
with visible results within a few days and no downtime.
CoolSculpting
20
If you have a small “muffin top,” or pockets of fat on
the inner thighs, you can now treat it in an afternoon
without breaking a sweat. CoolSculpting uses a patented
fat freezing process to selectively target and destroy
unwanted fat cells without harming nearby tissue.
Once the fat cells are destroyed, your body naturally
metabolizes and eliminates them. One session usually
results in about a 20 percent to 25 percent decrease in
fat cells from the treated area. Afterward, you can return
to your normal routine, including work, shopping, even
working out - and nobody is the wiser.
Rhonda is the marketing director
at St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery.
You can read her blog at
stlcosmeticsurgery.com.
IPL
If you suffer from skin discoloration (think sun spots) or
redness, IPL (Intense Pulse Light) may be for you. Using
a range of light waves that pass through the skin, IPL
targets damaged cells to lighten, brighten, and even help
with skin elasticity. Typically three to five treatments are
needed for full effect.
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