Skin Care - Doctors Fast Fixes

I call the following treatments "doctors' fast fixes" because they use lasers or needles, which push them into the realm of medical treatments. However, the procedures are every bit as fast as the lunchtime treatments mentioned earlier and, in some ways, they are faster. Unlike the lunchtime services, which offer cumulative results and should be repeated at regular, short intervals, the fix-ups outlined below generally offer instant rejuvenation in a single appointment.

Collagen injections

In the late 1980s, collagen got a reputation as a lip-plumper thanks to Barbara Hershey's enhanced pout in the movie Beaches. Today, collagen is still popular, but it's more likely to fill indented scars and those deep lines that run between the nose and mouth, and the mouth and chin.

Collagen lasts longer when injected into those areas of the face where there isn't a lot of muscle movement.

Vegetarians should keep in mind that collagen comes from cow cadavers, although there is a version called Dermalogen that is extracted from human cadavers. If this gruesome information doesn't dim your desire to try collagen, visit your dermatologist. He or she will administer an allergy test; usually, this is a small injection of the material in the forearm. If after 2 weeks no redness or rash develops, you can return to have collagen injected into your face's dermis. While collagen is extremely natural-looking, its effects are short-lived, lasting anywhere from 2 to 6 months.

Laser vein removal

If you suffer from broken or dilated capillaries, you know how hard these scarlet squiggles are to hide with makeup. Fortunately, these unsightly marks are easily treated in a 15-minute appointment with a laser-wielding dermatologist.

When aimed at the offending capillaries, the laser emits a wavelength of light that heats the blood inside the small vein. When the heat reaches a certain level, the blood vessels' walls collapse and dissolve. You'll feel a small zap as the laser light does its work. If you are like most people, you'll need two to four treatments - spaced 1 or 2 months apart - to get the results you want.

After laser vein treatment, you may notice redness around the affected area, but nothing severe.

If you read beauty magazines, you probably know about botox. This muscle-paralyzing substance is injected into muscles - usually in the upper third of the face - and it is particularly effective for eliminating or preventing crow's feet, between brow furrows, and horizontal creases on the forehead. It smoothes the skin and prevents wrinkles by interrupting the nerve's signal to the injected muscle - when the brain sends a signal down along the nerve passageway, the message doesn't reach the muscle, the muscle doesn't move, and the area remains still and smooth.

"Botox" stands for bacterium clostridium botulinum toxin, the same illness-producing toxin found in spoiled canned goods. Before you get alarmed, however, you should know the form of botulism toxin used by dermatologists is not only purified and extremely diluted, but has been used safely for 20 years to treat medical conditions such eye spasms, central nervous system disorders, facial paralysis, and excessive muscle contractions.

Always consider possible side effects before going ahead with a treatment.

While side effects are rare, botox can cause temporary eyelid droop in a small number of cases. This usually appears 1 to 2 weeks after the injection and can be countered with special eye drops. To reduce your risk of eyelid droop, go to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon who uses botox on a regular basis. Botox results last from 3 to 6 months.

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