Turn Back the Clock
All sorts of products promise to trim away years-without using a knife
Crazy for Botox. The most popular nonsurgical fix continues to be Botox, which has been around for more than a decade and is the most widely prescribed and one of the safest "injectables" on the market. Last year more than 2 million injections were given, and the number is expected to increase as new uses are found. "For many women, Botox is as routine as a manicure and pedicure," says Jory Goldman, a registered nurse who specializes in aesthetic procedures such as injections of Botox and other fillers. Botox, which lasts about three months, is best known for its ability to paralyze muscles that create furrowed brows and laugh lines. But it is increasingly being used throughout the face to relax the muscles that pull down on your nose or brow, for instance, and let those that pull up dominate. Some younger patients have even started using Botox to prevent wrinkles and sagging. "We just keep finding new ways of using it," says Steven Dayan, a Chicago plastic surgeon and national expert on Botox. "The danger is when it is overused or used improperly." Too much Botox, for instance, can rob your face of expression and create an unnatural look.
A typical Botox treatment costs about $300 to $600 and should be administered by a physician or licensed nurse. If it is being offered for much less (probably in a mall, storefront, or spa) it may mean the product is being overdiluted.
Dermal fillers, which plump up wrinkles and firm up the skin, are among the hottest and fastest-growing new treatments. Last year, more than 1 million Americans used injectable soft-tissue fillers such as Restylane, Sculptra, and Radiance to compensate for the loss of fat and collagen in the face that comes with age. Restylane, a gel made from hyaluronic acid, has been the subject of several positive clinical trails in the United States and Europe, and the risk of an allergic reaction is very low (1 in 1,600). Most fillers are naturally absorbed by the body and have shown no evidence of building up over time or causing long-term problems. But they are still relatively new. Some people have their own fat injected, which is extremely low risk. Such fat is absorbed fairly quickly, and the effects usually last no more than a couple of months, doctors say.
Restylane is typically injected into the creases from the side of the nose to the corner of the mouth and along the upper lip to fill out fine lines. Restylane and other hyaluronics last three to six months and can cost anywhere from $400 to $1,000 and up, depending on how many vials you need. "Hyaluronics give very nice corrections if the patient isn't too far along," says Robin Schaffran, a Beverly Hills, Calif., dermatologist. "But if you need to use a lot of material it could lump up, and the person would be better off with a face-lift." Sculptra, which is injected deep under the skin to stimulate collagen production, can last up to two years and typically costs at least $3,000 for two treatments.
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