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Glycolic Skin Treatment

Now is the perfect time for a facial peel, in winter the skin can appear dull and ashy in appearance. Facial peels are a great way to rejuvenate the skin to reveal younger looking more radiant skin. Vegetable peel facials offer the same benefits as other chemical treatments like microdermabrasion. All facial scrubs and chemical peels can be used in combination with at-home methods like peel off masks.

Facial peels can repair damage to the skin caused by air pollution or overexposure to the sun. People who benefit the most from chemical peel treatments are those with mild to moderate acne, certain thyroid conditions which may cause a dull complexion. Menopausal women also benefit greatly from chemical peels to counteract the lax or sagging skin that occurs during menopause.

Chemical peels use glycolic acid as an exfoliating agent to chemically remove surface dead skin cells and improve the texture of facial skin. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) and beta hydroxy acid (BHA) are often used in chemical peel treatments. AHA and BHA are acids that occur naturally in fruits and vegetables. There are other acids that can be used in chemical peels that are derived from natural sources such sour milk- it produces lactic acid which was used as a beauty treatment by the Egyptians. AHA is the most popular because of its molecular structure; it can penetrate the pore and remove the dead skin cells to accelerate the exfoliation process. Glycolic acid stimulates collagen growth and does not cause any visible peeling. Chemical peels should only be performed by a licensed dermatologist. Only your dermatologist knows the proper concentration of glycolic acid to apply to improve the appearance of the skin.

During the chemical peel process, AHA is the form of glycolic acid is applied directly to the skin. The face is prepared for the treatment by using a pre-peel cleanser. The glycolic acid should only be left on the skin for a few minutes.

You must use sunscreen for 2-4 days following treatment and you should avoid intense sunlight. You may start to wear make-up, 24 hours after treatment. Treatment may consist of a series of acids peels for an interval of three to six weeks to achieve total skin rejuvenation.

Follow all instructions by your dermatologist and if you experience any side effects after a chemical peel, such as brown discoloration of the skin. Contact your dermatologist immediately.

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Cosmetic Procedures In Elderly Women Skyrocket

With the advent of plastic surgery, and alternative procedures that do not involve surgery, wealthy women started the war against aging. As time has progressed however, technology has gotten much better, and as a result, these procedures have become safer, more appealing, and more affordable. As such, more and more people have turned to new procedures such as face-lifts and Botox injections.

Though some use cosmetic procedures just to enhance their own image and try to look better, people are starting to use it to turn 50 into the new 30. Recent studies and new polls suggest that the amount of women approaching old age, and seeking cosmetic procedures to delay aging, has come close to doubling in recent years. These studies also suggest that with more advances in the cosmetic field, these numbers will only continue to rise.

Many celebrities that have fallen from their pinnacle of beauty, are also now seeking these cosmetic treatments. Although not an intended effect of their procedures, due to their high amounts of public exposure, these celebrities serve as walking advertisements for the cosmetic surgery industry. Many people that idolize either these people, or beauty, may seek out these treatments solely because the people they look up to find them to be fine.

Some people may question why a women would want to change her natural body in the first place, but the answer is actually pretty obvious. Where sees 50 years ago, aging was tolerated as a natural part of life, the modern media now portrays aging as something bad and ugly. As women get older and experience menopause, their bodies start changing in ways that are now considered to be unattractive. They then seek out these cosmetic procedures, not only to make themselves look more attractive in society’s eyes, but also to improve their own self-esteem.

Though many question the ethics and morals of plastic and cosmetic surgeries, their benefits to society are obvious. With many famous figures acquiring new looks through these measures, they provide inspiration for common people to go out and get them to. Because of society’s misconstrued views of aging, plastic surgery is as psychological as it is physical, helping older women both look better, and improve their confidence in themselves. As these procedures become safer and more affordable, there is no doubt that the number of people seeking them will only continue to rise, and their benefits to society will be enjoyed by more and more people.

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New and Improved: Plastic Surgery Reconstructed

It’s all over the tabloids.

Celebrities uncovered who need “a little work done.” Or have had said “work” done in an obvious manner. Or, worst yet, the ones who looked better before.

Plastic surgery. With the “education” that the tabloids give us about it, should we even wonder why people hesitate to permanently correct their flaws?

However, researchers and healthcare professionals are discovering many new and exciting factors about nutraceuticals and the cosmetic surgery industry. Not only are botox and plastic surgery safer than they used to be, but they also produce better results. Your risk of coming out looking like a goldfish is not only greatly diminished, but the procedure itself is healthier for you than it has ever been.

The Methodist Hospital reports through a recent study that dietary supplements of zinc and phytase prior to Botox®, Dysport®, or Myobloc® injections increased the effectiveness 93% of the time. 44 patients who had not responded positively to botulinum toxin injections were once again being treated for a blepharospasm condition, a rare form of eyelid spasms, hemifacial spasms, and cosmetic wrinkles. Each of the patients took zinc and phytase for four consecutive days prior to surgery, and 41 of them had more success than they did the first time.

Before the plastic surgery, the patients took 50 mg of zinc citrate, along with 3,000 PU of phytase and 10 mg of zinc gluconate or placebo supplementation. The researchers evaluated the patients based on their individual experiences with cosmetic surgery prior to taking the dietary supplements as a baseline.

As a result of this remarkable study, Dr. Charles Soparkar, an oculoplastic surgeon at The Methodist Hospital, is offering a zinc and phytase supplement to his patients. “Surprisingly, the results showed in more than 90 percent of the patients studied, the zinc/phytase combination improved responsiveness to treatment of blepharospasm using the same amount of botulinum toxin as previously used,” said Soparkar. “The toxins seemed to have greater effect and last longer. Potentially, this could mean using fewer toxins, offering patients financial savings, greater safety and more consistent results.” Dr. Soparkar will present this dietary supplement at the American Society of Opthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery’s 41st Annual Fall Scientific Symposium on October 14 in Chicago.

Because of this remarkable study, botox and plastic surgery are safer and more effective practices, building confidence in patients and allowing for safer and more effective results.

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Cosmetic Surgery On the Rise

In recent years, plastic surgery has slowly been on decline in the United States. However, botox shots and other wrinkle softening beauty treatments are on the rise in Europe. German citizens in particular are taking advantage of advances in cosmetic surgery, according to the Düsseldorf based Gesellschaft für Ästhetische Chirurgie Deutschland (GÄCD).

Studies and polling data show that 171,000 German citizens have undergone cosmetic procedures in the last year, a rise of twenty percent. Comparatively, cosmetic surgery in the United States is down two percent from the previous year. The most substantial increase was seen in the use of wrinkle filling agents such as Botox. Approximately 100,000 patients used botox in 2008, a number which leaped to 146,000 in 2009 according to a survey done by the GÄCD.

GÄCD general secretary Matthias Gensior cites affordability as the primary reason for the rise in botox injections, mentioning that the economic crisis as a potential catalyst. While botox injections are still relatively expensive, they are generally cheaper than more invasive surgeries.

Most female patients sought Botox treatment in order to diminish the appearance of frown lines and crow’s feet. Male patients favoured laser treatments, according to the statistics released by the organisation. In total 130,000 women underwent Botox or needle related treatments, compared to just 14,000 for men. Meanwhile 43,000 men underwent laser surgery to even skin and smooth lines. Women, on the other hand, logged only 38,000 of these treatments. According to the GÄCD, a plurality of patients were new to cosmetic surgery. Moreover, the median age of these patients had also decreased significantly from previous years.

Non-facial related surgeries also remained popular. Liposuction remained a popular treatment for overweight women, with close to 17,000 surgeries performed last year. Corrective rhinoplasty was popular among men, with approximately 3,500 surgeries logged by doctors. Other popular cosmetic surgeries included tattoo removal and eye lifts. According to Gensior, men were far less likely to undergo more drastic surgeries due to the stigma often associated with plastic surgery. Women, he noted, undergo treatment not only for cosmetic reasons but practical ones as well. Droopy eyes, for example, make it difficult to apply make-up.

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The Anti-Aging Industry Continues to Grow

The cosmetic enhancement industry has seen rapid growth over the past ten years. The sheer number of images that we are exposed to of people receiving treatment to fight the effects of aging is staggering. You see them in movies, television, and magazines. As a matter of fact, a study conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons predicts that the number of cosmetic procedures undergone each year will have grown by an amazing four hundred percent between 2005 and 2015. A large part of the reason for this is that injections have been replacing more invasive surgical procedures such as face lifts. Injections are both less expensive and offer almost no downtime in comparison to surgical procedures, making them a very attractive option.

Recently, a panel discussion on the future of cosmetic enhancements was held in Toronto, where many of the city’s most respected plastic surgeons, cosmetologists, and dermatologists met to discuss some of the latest changes and the future of the industry. Dr. Sheetal Sapra, director of dermatology at the Institute of Cosmetic and Laser surgery says that back in 1990, nearly all of the cosmetic work that was conducted in Canada was performed by plastic surgeons. This has changed quite drastically. Now only about twenty percent of the work that they do is surgical in nature.

The reason for this change is something called combination therapy. Combination therapy is the use of several different facial injections in combination with one another to receive the desired cosmetic effects. Some of the treatments that may be undergone include Botox, which is a neurotoxin that temporarily paralyzes the muscles of the face, causing them to relax and allowing wrinkles and creases in the face to smooth out. Other treatments such as Restylane, Juvederm, and Perlane contain within them synthetic fillers that help to rejuvinate a sculpt the skin. These fillers include hyaluronic acid and collagen, which are natural proteins produced by the body that help keep tissue healthy. They may also include artificial chemicals that help give form to the face. Other treatments include laser treatments which can be used in order to remove brown spots or rosacea from the face. Fractional tightening is another option which can be used in order to smooth wrinkles and creases, improve the texture of the skin, and fight acne scars.

Dr. Stephen Mulholland, one of Canada’s most respected plastic surgeons, claims that about sixty minutes of work and three thousand dollars is enough to take five years off of somebody’s face today.

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How Microdermabrasion Works

Medical microdermabrasion is a method used to resurface the skin by peeling away a very fine layer with each treatment received. The procedure is completely non-invasive, simple, and painless and results in the reduction of wrinkles and fine lines that come with age. It is just as effective as more expensive laser resurfacing treatments or chemical peels in getting rid of superficial imperfections on the skin. Microdermabrasion also can help heal mild cases of acne, and can lessen pigmentation issues like age spots. These treatments are also successful at reducing oily skin and shrinking pores.

Microdermabrasion is able to smooth skin and improve its tone by using a small device that can be held easily in the hand to apply a special cream to the skin. This cream contains thousands of tiny crystals. While the crystals are peeling away a layer of dead skin, the device also vacuums away the crystals along with the old skin cells. After a treatment, the next layer of skin that is smoother and softer is revealed. With each microdermabrasion treatment, more dead skin cells are removed and new cells are generated faster than they normally would be without the treatment. While new skin cells are growing so is new collagen, which makes the skin thicker and tighter, thus reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

Another advantage of microdermabrasion is that it also helps the skin produce elastin. Elastin makes skin more supple. These treatments also increase the flow of blood to the dermis, allowing the skin to repair itself more quickly and efficiently.

Results of microdermabrasion can be seen with the initial treatment, leaving your skin looking refreshed and aglow and you feeling better about yourself. If you feel like treating yourself to a day at the spa, add a microdermabrasion treatment to your schedule and walk out feeling like a new you.

More than one treatment with this system may be necessary in order to treat certain issues like light acne scarring and age spots and to get the big results you want when it comes to those fine lines and wrinkles. With each treatment you will see those problem areas fade and your skin will respond better to anti-aging creams and lotions and to acne medications.

Microdermabrasion treatments are greatly successful and can be used on people with just about any skin type. However, those with serious cases of acne should not use microdermabrasion.

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Carboxytherapy : A painless cure for skin ageing

The method of cutaneous and subcutaneous administration of gaseous carbon-dioxide for cosmetic therapy, that is, to improve the texture and quality of skin is called carboxytherapy. The idea preliminarily originated in France in 1930s when it was observed that taking a bath in pools rich in gaseous carbon dioxide helps in rapid healing of wounds. This benefit of carbon dioxide gas is now used in cosmetic therapy. Carboxytherapy is reported to have beneficial results in improving blood circulation, restoring skin’s elasticity, lessening of fat cells and reduction of cellulite.

The injection of carbon dioxide gas through the skin cells helps to dilate the blood vessels, resulting in improved flow of blood and oxygen through the skin. Carboxytherapy, in a way, makes the human heart to pump more oxygen in the blood by injecting a small amount of carbon dioxide. The blood vessels, in order to nullify the presence of carbon dioxide, carries more oxygen following a physiological principle, generally termed as ‘oxygen off-loading’. As a consequence, worn out cells of the skin gets rejuvenated. Thus, this therapy is used to minimise wrinkles and ageing of the skin.

Along with skin rejuvenation, carboxytherapy is used against :

1. Dark under-eye circles : Carboxytherapy improves the capillary network of the lower eyelid, thus increasing the blood circulation

2. Stretch marks : The injection of carbon dioxide gas helps in collagen formation of skin, thus helping in building the collagen matrix and increasing the thickness of the skin.

3. Fat and cellulite reduction : A specific technique of injecting gaseous carbon dioxide into the fat cells is used, such that, the gas becomes toxic to the fat cells making them burst and subsequently eliminate from the body.

These applications of carboxytherapy makes it one of the most popular skin rejuvenation treatment. It is considered a breakthrough in cosmetic therapy. This treatment with carbon dioxide is least invasive. The patients will only bear a bruise at the spot of injection for a few days, and are generally prescribed not to involve in any vigorous exercises for a couple of hours after the treatment.The period of treatment depends on the severity of the problem. Six to twelve treatments, of fifteen to thirty minutes each, spaced one week apart, yield desired results. However, proper caution are advised to be taken and persons with breathing problems or asthma are generally suggested to refrain from carboxytherapy.

Find out more about training with Cosmetic Courses.

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Increase in Botched Plastic Surgeries

Cosmetic treatments and surgery seem to be recession proof with people still being very interested in turning back the clock. But, there is a fear that with the lack of regulations being so immense just about anyone can set up shop. A rise in bungled non-surgical cosmetic treatments has been reported recently, and cases are popping up at an alarming rate in courts.

Even with the recession, it is estimated that these procedures have grown in popularity by nearly 25% in the last year. There were about 5,000 facilities in the UK practicing around 200,000 procedures, in total, over the last year.

These non-surgical procedures are carried out with lasers and injections and should be performed by well-qualified medical professionals. However, the truth is, this is not always the case. This equipment can be easily obtained by non-medical personnel and anyone can open a salon and offer these services.

Typically, clinics using high-powered lasers must be registered with Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, but these cosmetic treatment facilities are not being regulated. The Independent Health Advisory Service has also failed to regulate the use of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments, and these treatments are causing most of the problems.

With no regulations being issued, the people practicing these procedures are doing so without proper training. They are practicing with nothing but an interest in making their money back on the very costly equipment they have purchased. This leads to an interest in quantity over quality, and people get hurt.

If these high-powered lasers are used at an inappopriately high setting clients can be severely burned. Clients are being left with burns resulting in permanent scarring. If the victims of these bungled operations are lucky, Clients are being left with burns resulting in permanent scarring, but the deeper burns are there for life. This irreversible damage can lead to severe psychological distress for the client.

If you are considering a cosmetic treatment, do your research. The British Association of Cosmetic Doctors has a list of licensed facilities which offer these treatments. Doctors practice under a code of ethics and are required to give you a realistic assessment of how cosmetic procedures may help you. Furthermore, if anything were to go wrong during a procedure, an investigation could be held through the General Medical Council. If this investigation found the physician to be negligent, he/she could lose their license. Please protect yourself.

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Treatment Menus for Defying the Aging Process

A well designed menu will keep you coming back to the same restaurant over and over to try different meals. The same goes for treatments on a menu at a spa or salon, but only if it is done right. The most important factor when deciding to make a treatment menu is to pay attention to what your customers want. You need to know if your customers are looking more for beauty, or for relaxation. This can be accomplished by visiting local social groups, and talking to people who visit your spa. Setting up a less than formal focus group at a local health club can also be quite helpful.

Figuring out the age range of the people who frequent your spa is an important factor. Older customers are more likely to want a results oriented, age defying treatment plan, while younger customers may be more concerned with receiving a relaxing, holistic experience that may be less long-term. Speaking with your customers directly and actually asking them what they want is also an invaluable resource. Selling them what they want to buy rather than what you want to sell is a great way to create repeating customers. Understanding your demographic as well as the niches that your competitors have filled is an important part of the business. Knowing whether or not your customer base is looking for something cost effective or decadent is also key.

It is important not to try to be everything to everybody. A treatment menu should focus on providing for existing customers who are respected as well as for targeting a specific type of customer. It shouldn’t be about attracting everybody. Offering too many options will just scare off potential customers by confusing them. The focus should be on attracting core customers. Experimenting a little to see what works is important, but this process should be careful and deliberate, so that you get an idea of what works and what does not.

Once you understand your customer base, you will know whether to focus on a more results driven or a more relaxing, holistic environment. Don’t let your concern about your customer base spiral out of control, however. You need to actually believe in the product you are selling, and customers will be able to sense if you are just telling them everything that they want to hear.

Once you know what your customer base wants and what you are comfortable with trying to sell, you can focus on building a brand identity, so that customers will know what to expect from your spa or salon.

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Non-Invasive Facial Rejuvenation

The elusive fountain of youth has yet to be found, if such a thing even exists. If a true anti-aging treatment does exist, it surely will not take the form that the explorers and philosophers of yore expected. It will not be found in the sweltering swamps of Ponce de Leon’s Florida or high in the mythical peaks of Shangri-La.

It won’t be magical at all; instead, it will come to us through the advanced study of chemistry and biology. Scientists still haven’t figured out how to completely halt or reverse the aging process, but there’s no shortage of procedures that can ameliorate the symptoms. However, not everyone is comfortable going under the knife; any surgical procedure has its share of risks and complications. Fortunately, it’s still possible to get the results desired without going through invasive plastic surgery. The following are just a few of the popular non-invasive facelift techniques.

Thermage Facial

This technique uses heat to tighten loose, aging skin and rejuvenate the features of your face. Approved by the FDA in 2001, Thermage uses radio technology to heat the collagen fibers in the deeper skin layers while a cooling spray protects the outer surface. Not a single cut is made, and recovery time is minimal. Patients can expect to see results anywhere from two weeks to six months after a single procedure, and the results typically last six months to two years.

Wrinkle Iron

Also known as a microcurrent facial, the wrinkle iron uses galvanic technology to remove wrinkles. First, a negative current removes impurities in the skin. The second step boosts collagen production and new cell growth by using a positively charged current to send emollients and nutrients deep into your skin’s important layers.

Age Control Peel

This chemical peel uses Citric Acid and a Glycolic solution, two powerful anti-aging compounds. As the human body gets older, the skin’s regenerative abilities slow down. Over the course of a few sessions, the Age Control Peel rids your face of old, deteriorating skin and rejuvenates the layers beneath.

O3 Facials

This is a quick, convenient technique that is well worth the modest price. An O3 facial washes away dirt and unclogs pores, which leaves the skin looking and feeling fresher, cleaner and more youthful. When the face mask comes off, your cells will be richly oxygenated and your face pleasantly smooth and supple.

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