In some industries, new technologies and trends come and go so quickly that the most popular choice changes from week to week. But in the field of Medical Aesthetics, there is one procedure that continues to be the sought-after “look of the moment” – Botox. The overwhelming amount of celebrities that have admitted to using the cosmetic drug continues to bolster the popularity of the treatment among real women, ranging from “too young” women attempting to prevent signs of aging to “too old” women who desire to combat their wrinkles. Below, Clinical Director of LaserTouch Soho, Mike Sendogan, gives us a tour of popular Botox procedures and explains their seemingly unwavering appeal.

“American women are bombarded by images of outwardly flawless women on a consistent basis. Inevitably, these celebrities and models become their idols, in a sense – on everything from style, to parenting, to medical procedures. It’s true that many women have a problem with the concept of aging, but it goes further than that. These procedures are quick, largely painless, and have a short recovery period. That spells success for Botox, and I don’t anticipate that it will lose popularity in the foreseeable future.”

The obvious place to start for most women, forehead and frown lines are target trouble spots for wrinkles. The root cause for this procedure is “excessive facial movements”, but over time, all levels of facial movements will produce wrinkles. What is the process to get rid of the first classic signs of aging? “It’s important to note that following the patient’s wishes, Dr. Vafa makes recommendations for the amount of injections needed to produce the desired result,” says Mike.

• The procedure is comfortable and usually does not require anesthesia. Some patients opt for numbing of the area, which is done with a cold pack.
• Depending upon the desired areas of injection, treatments can take as little as fifteen minutes. Dr. Vafa makes recommendations based on his own findings as well as the needs and wants of the individual.
• There is little to no bruising following injection. Most patients report that results last anywhere from three to six months.

The term “brow lift” can oftentimes be associated with actual cosmetic surgery. But Botox can achieve this look, in a virtually non-invasive way. For career women, working mothers, or even students, a short recovery period is key to the appeal of these procedures. “Dr. Vafa can inject Botox into the outer area of the brow to create a lifting effect. For a lot of women, this look is one of the most desirable. With millions of procedures all over the world, Botox has been and continues to be the most popular aesthetic treatment today.”

• With minimal to no pain, patients can opt for numbing with a cold pack , but most patients do not require it.
• Treatment time is fifteen to twenty minutes. That means patients can stop in on their lunch break and return to work shortly afterward, which has led to high demand.
• Downtime is not recommended and bruising is uncommon.

Information courtesy of Mike Sendogan LaserTouchSoho, New York

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a typical “average day” for an American includes 9 hours at their job, 8 hours sleeping and about 2 hours caring for others, eating and performing household chores. It comes to no surprise that a new trend has emerged where many people are using their lunch hour for appointments rather than eating.

Dr. Mitchell Chasin, Medical Director of Reflections gives us the run down of his own lunchtime bookings;

1. ACNE– Acne is not a teen condition; it actually affects 25% of adults in their 30s and 40s. Fortunately, acne is treatable and several powerful laser options are available. Combining the Vbeam Laser, which acts as an anti-inflammatory and neutralizes the acne forming bacteria, with Fraxel reduces the appearance acne scars.

2. WRINKLES – Dermal fillers and innovative treatments like Fraxel, ePRIME or eMatrix all have been clinically proven to dramatically reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while stimulating the production of new collagen.

3. SUN SPOTS – Brown spots not only look unhealthy, they make many women feel older. Fraxel, eMatrix and Q-switch lasers reduces the appearance of sun spots and wrinkles caused by the summer sun

4. HAIRY SITUATION – Whereas shaving, tweezing, depilatories and waxing are all temporary; laser hair removal offers a permanent method to remove unwanted hair. The FDA has cleared Lasers for permanent reduction of unwanted hair and the results are excellent.

5. SKIN REJUVENATION – As you age, your skin’s collagen and elastin begin to break down faster than you can rebuild them, making your skin look tired and less radiant resulting in noticeable wrinkles and lines on the forehead as well as nasolabial folds. State of the art laser technologies, like Fraxel Re:pair, GentleYag or Photodynamic Therapy Rejuvenation have been clinically proven to dramatically reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Today's society is filled with cosmetic and aesthetic procedures done everyday. With 13.1 million cosmetic procedures done in the United States alone, it's a jungle out there. We caught up with Dr. Mitchell Chasin - the Medical Director of Reflections in New Jersey, to have an insiders guide into the world of cosmetic surgery.

JacquelineLuxe: Dr.Chasin can you please share with us the latest trends in laser and aesthetic technology that are being practiced today?

Chasin: Technology is always advancing in the world of laser and aesthetic medicine, and right now skin rejuvenation and non-invasive body contouring are very hot. On the facial rejuvenation front, one of the newest technology is Syneron-Candela’s ePRIME.

ePRIME uses a set of micro-needles to deliver radiofrequency energy right into the layer of skin where it’s needed most. It helps to promote the production of collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin, providing smoother, fuller and tighter looking skin in one single treatment. On the non-invasive body contouring front, we’re seeing good results using Zeltiq’s CoolSculpting technology, and we’re expecting some other very exciting devices in 2012.

JacquelineLuxe: It seems as though cosmetic procedures are ever more popular, with both women and men having more aesthetic works done. Dr. Chasin what would you say are the most popular treatments clients are receiving these days?

Chasin: BOTOX continues to be the most popular treatment, mostly because everyone has heard of it and it has such a great track record of success and safety. Once people come in and see all the other things we can do for them, they’re hooked! Facial rejuvenation technologies like Fraxel, eMatrix, Ulthera and ePRIME are very popular, and we also see many people who are interested in Laser Liposuction.

Also, we’ve pioneered a new technique for treating excessive underarm sweating called AxiLase, which is drawing people from all over the country. And it’s not just women – our practice is seeing more and more men who come in looking to stave off the signs of aging and gain a competitive edge in the dating world and at work.

JacquelineLuxe: There are always the 'Do's & Don'ts' with any aesthetic procedure. Dr. Chasin, can you share some tips with our audience as to the correct and safe approach with having a procedure done.

Chasin: First off, Google is your friend. Google the condition you want treated. Google the procedure you’re interested in. Google your doctor and read the reviews. A little research can save you a lot of time and trouble. You also want to call the office and ask how many devices your doctor owns. It is important to look for a doctor who is committed to aesthetic medicine, and the number of lasers she or he owns is an indication of their investment in the field.

Also, many doctors have a single do-all laser in the office that does many things, but does few of them well. Ask a few questions to make sure that you’re getting the best technology available to achieve your aesthetic goals.

During your consultation, be sure to ask about how many times the doctor has performed the treatment, ask to see before and after pictures of that doctor’s patients (and not ones supplied by the aesthetic companies) ask what the treatment feels like, ask how much downtime you can expect and any other questions that will help you make an informed decision.

Finally, trust your gut, if it doesn’t feel right, find a different doctor. Don’t be afraid to walk away.

JacquelineLuxe: Acne is not only a teenage skin disorder, but it still affects both women and men in their adult years. Is there a cure out there, besides the regularly endorsed benzoyl peroxide skin treatments? And how can we effectively take care of acne with one of your procedures?

Chasin: There are a variety of laser and light sources we use to treat acne. Treatment recommendations are based on type of acne, skin type and whether scars are present. A very powerful treatment option is combining the Vbeam Laser, which acts as an anti-inflammatory and neutralizes the acne forming bacteria, with Fraxel to reduce the appearance acne scars.

JacquelineLuxe: The holidays are upon us, and it's time to be looking our best! Dr. Chasin, what types of procedures would you recommend to perk up our skin and make us look fresher!

Chasin: For a quick fix, I recommend Botox and dermal fillers, which can dramatically reduce fine lines and wrinkles in short period of time. For even more profound results, I recommend a series of skin resurfacing treatments such as Fraxel or eMatrix, which will reduce the appearance of sun spots and wrinkles which were caused by the summer sun, especially when combined with Q-switched lasers.

But of course the best way to look great during the holidays is to smile and make merry with your friends and family. Nothing makes someone look better than happiness!

To learn more about Reflections medical procedures, visit reflectionscenter.com.

Those in search of their own fountain of youth turn to cosmetic procedures to plump, nip and tuck away the years.  But while most assume women make up the patient roster for cosmetic procedures, men have found ways to improve their self-image as well.  They are just keeping it a secret.

On any given day, if you look in the reception area of the renowned JUVA Skin & Laser Center in Manhattan, you will notice just as many male patients as female.  Dr. Adam Schaffner, Director of Plastic Surgery at JUVA, says men are turning to him for ways they can look and feel like a better man.

Whether it is for personal fulfillment or to enhance a professional image, popular facial procedures include enhancing jaw lines to project a strong impression, injecting BOTOX® Cosmetic and fillers to eliminate the look of fatigue, trimming extra skin and softening wrinkles around the eyes, and fixing nasal imperfections like bumps, ridges and a bulbous tip.

Making alterations to a man's body has become increasingly more popular in the past decade as advances in laser and cosmetic procedures have made them easier and more accessible.  Whether treating "man boobs", known as gynecomastia, love handles, or a lack of definition, liposuction can help reshape areas to improve contour.  Lipoetching accentuates the pectoral, abdominal and oblique muscles.  Finally, laser-assisted liposuction helps tighten skin and reduce the amount of bruising and swelling associated with other liposuction techniques.

"There is a misconception that cosmetic procedures are geared towards preserving a woman's youth and that men don't have similar insecurities about their face or body," said Dr. Schaffner.  "Men discreetly and quickly undergo minimally invasive procedures that help achieve their desired image."

SOURCE JUVA Skin & Laser Center

Wrinkles may be a sign of approaching middle age but younger women now have a reason to worry — the smartphone squint. Many of them are developing premature wrinkles from staring at their smartphones, says Dr. Brian Glatt, a New Jersey board-certified plastic surgeon. According to Dr. Glatt, “The trend for ‘BlackBerry Botox’ is highly increasing especially among women who are addicted to gazing on their BlackBerries or iPhones all day. Peering at a small screen causes facial strain, around and between the brows which may cause premature wrinkles on the face.”

Tips for Smartphone users to help prevent against the need for Blackberry Botox

1. Take a break – It’s important to put down or at least glance up from your Smartphone regularly so that your eyes can rest. Though squinting is necessary when using a Smartphone, taking time to relax your eyes can make a significant difference in reducing this new type of strain on your facial muscles.

2. Turn the light down low – too much light and contrast can cause you to narrow the eyes to take in the brightness. A no-no for fresh-looking eye contours. Combat the dreaded ‘crow’s feet’ effect by dimming the screen in your ‘settings’ options – and see how low you can go on the light emission. The less, the better. (as a bonus, this will also help preserve your phone’s battery life!)

3. Enlarge the text – If you find yourself struggling to read the small text on your Smartphone and start holding it so close you wrinkle your nose so much it hurts, just enlarge the text by simply going to your settings and altering the text size. Also, the zoom function can be a fantastic thing – use it to focus in on images on your device so you can see much more clearly and avoid pulling the inner eye.

4. Looking after your eyes – If you can bear it, spend less time glued to your iPhone or Blackberry. And during this timeout, take some deep breaths to relax the face into a more natural expression, and gently massage the area around the eyes – a simple thing that can make a big difference to preventing those lines that starts subtly but can get deeper and more pronounced. Not only will your face be serene looking, you will feel more serene – and in a much better state to deal with any inbox horrors.

5. Don’t forget to smile! - If you are experiencing stress from being constantly attached to your Smartphone, just think about the potentially negative effect this is having on your youthful appearance. Then, take time to do something that relieves the tension, like playing on a fun app, like TomCat or Angry Birds; this will help relax your face, soften your expression and prevent long term frown lines. Smartphone-related wrinkles are the latest condition that doctors attribute to overuse of technology.