MSN > Women > Health & Fitness

Non-Surgical Age Erasers

Allison Van Dusen

 
 
These days there's no excuse for looking your age.

With plastic surgery options ranging from eyelid reshaping to forehead lifts, you can easily take years off your appearance.

But what if you don't have the kind of recovery time invasive procedures require or you're too chicken to go under the knife?

You're certainly not alone. A 2006 survey of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery's more than 1,300 member surgeons found a 69% increase among women and a 91% increase among men undergoing non-surgical facial plastic surgery procedures, such as Botox, microdermabrasion, Hyaluronic acid and chemical peels, since 2000.

In Pictures: Non-Surgical Age Erasers

In Pictures: The Seven Scariest Hospital Complications

In Pictures: Fat Fighting Drugs Of The Future

In Pictures: Celebs' Slim-Down Secrets

In Pictures: Simple Steps To Leaner Eating

And the market for non-surgical age erasers is growing every day, with new solutions popping up in dermatologists' offices, retailers and even the grocery store.

Latest Advances
If you're looking for something new, one of the treatments for smile lines that's gotten attention since hitting the market in February is Artes Medical's new FDA-approved dermal filler, ArteFill.

The product stays under the skin, providing volume beneath wrinkles, and encourages collagen production. While approved with a claim that results last one year, Artes submitted data to the FDA in March to extend the claim to five years.

Crossing over Skin Myths

Cutting Hospitals Out Of Surgery

Aloe Vera: a wonder plant for skin

Astringents: for a clean & beautiful skin

Skin Foods

New York facial plastic surgeon Dr. Yael Halaas says ArteFill is attracting people tired of regularly returning to the doctor's office every few months for treatments--also known as injection fatigue.

"There are many patients who have not used fillers because they weren't permanent," she says.

On the laser front, Cynosure's Affirm, which came out late last year, uniquely uses three different laser energy sources to reduce wrinkles, treat scars and fix skin discoloration.

As of June, doctors offering the service also can add a feature that remodels collagen and tightens skin, says Cynosure CEO Michael Davin. Redness from the 15-minute treatments, recommended once a month for four to six months, only last up to a day.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Elie Levine, who is opening Plastic Surgery and Dermatology of NYC with his wife, dermatologist Dr.

Jody Alpert Levine, this fall, says he's recently become a fan of lasers.

"Doing facelifts I can eliminate jowls and refine cheeks and necklines, but frankly you can still look older," he says. "When Jody uses the newer lasers (on patients) and I see them a half-year later--they look like new women."

Crème de la crème
If you'd rather get rid of your wrinkles via a lotion, your choices are pretty much endless.

Market research firm Packaged Facts estimated in 2006 the cosmeceuticals industry is worth $12 billion, including everything from hair-repairing conditioners to vitamin-enriched skin creams and makeup that hydrates skin.

Some new products that could help turn back the clock include Goldfaden Skincare's Hands On and B. Kamins Chemist Therapeutic Anti-Aging Moisturizer.

Hands On, created by south Florida dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldfaden, uses the antioxidant red tea to make your hands look as young as your face.

Antioxidants reduce the harmful effects of free radicals--molecules that injure the skin's cells--and protect skin from additional stress and damage. You'll notice a difference in six weeks, Goldfaden says.

Developed by Montreal-based pharmaceutical and dermatological chemist Ben Kaminsky, the B. Kamins moisturizer is an antioxidant emulsion that gradually lessens the depth of wrinkles and plumps the skin.

Beyond antioxidants, experts from the American Academy of Dermatology recommend products with peptides to stimulate collagen production and thicken skin; growth factors, which play a role in new cell and blood vessel growth as well as the production and distribution of collagen and elastin; botanicals to reduce inflammation; and hydroxy acids to make skin brighter and smoother.

It's also wise to look for products that reference clinical trials or show before and after photos.

Kaminsky, co-author of Beyond Botox: 7 Strategies for Sexy, Ageless Skin Without Needles or Surgery, suggests visiting a clinical dermatologist or even a spa aesthetician for individual advice on picking the right cream.

"It's bloody difficult but there are people out there who are responsible and will advise you properly," he says.

Simpler Solutions
Of course, if lasers and creams sound don't sound appealing, you also can fight the aging process through your diet.

Upping your dietary intake of antioxidants, through eating blueberries or drinks like CherryPharm, can help control cell and tissue damage.

And while everyone knows foods with omega 3 fatty acids are great for the heart, they can also do wonders for skin, keeping it moist and minimizing the appearance of wrinkles, says Cheryl Forberg, registered dietitian and author of Stop the Clock! Cooking.

The downside to using food to defy your age is that the results may be slow and subtle.

But if you're committed to eating right, potential side effects include increased energy and weight loss, in addition to clearer skin.

"None of us wants to get older--we'll do anything to stop aging," Forberg says. "This is the safest, least expensive and most enjoyable way, in my opinion."