· Laser resurfacing: One of the newest additions to facial cosmetic surgery, this treatment uses a concentrated beam of light to reduce wrinkles, sun damage, scars and acne. Local anesthesia or IV sedation is used and patients experience swelling, redness and irritation for several days. Although the desired effect may take months to achieve, one treatment is usually sufficient for long-term results.
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· Intense pulsed light: This laser technique can reduce and remove age spots, pigmentation, and redness caused by flushing or broken capillaries on the skin's surface. Treatment is generally administered in four to six 20-minute sessions, four weeks apart, and results are long-term.
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· Fraxel laser: This treats aging, sun-damaged skin and wrinkles by triggering the body's own natural production of new collagen and skin cells. Three to five treatments four weeks apart are necessary for long-term results. Mild discomfort and reddening and swelling can occur.
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· Botox: Smoothes and softens moderate to severe frown lines between the brows. One treatment lasts up to four months.
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· Restylane: A dermal filler made of hyaluronic acid that restores volume and fullness to the skin to correct facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds. One treatment lasts approximately six months.
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· Microdermabrasion, or a “lunchtime peel,” is a skin-freshening technique that helps repair sun-damaged and aging skin by spraying tiny crystals across the face, mixing gentle abrasion with suction to remove the dead, outer layer of skin. A 30-minute treatment leaves skin fresh and rejuvenated for weeks.
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What’s next on the horizon?

“What we really need is a procedure that can tighten skin without making an incision; that’s the next great frontier,” says Mobley. “We’re always on the lookout for the next true innovation. Unfortunately, we can expect a lot of premature hype and marketing until we get there.”

Where to start? Consult with a reputable physician or board-certified plastic surgeon who can give you a range of safe and effective options—custom-deigned for your face. Beware of anyone promising an instant and easy fix to all of your concerns.

“I’m comfortable being the last person on the block to try something new,” says Hillstrom. “It’s my policy to wait until a product or procedure has been universally determined to be safe before I will use it in my practice.”

Facial Figures
11.5 million surgical and non-surgical procedures performed in 2006
9.4 million non-surgical cosmetic procedures performed in 2006
3.2 million Botox treatments performed in 2006
$12.2 billion spent on all cosmetic procedures in 2006
7.6 billion spent on cosmetic surgical procedures in 2006
4.6 billion spent on cosmetic non-surgical procedures in 2006
Women accounted for 92 percent of all cosmetic procedures in 2006

SOURCE: American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Figures are for 2006.