Are high-end skin care products really worth your hard-earned cash?

According to an article in the LA Times, the NPD Group, a consumer research firm, found that prestigious skin-care products priced at $150 or more — generated $418 million in department store sales in the U.S. during the last 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2012.

That kind of consumer confidence translates into an 18% increase over the preceding year, with the average selling price for a jar of skin cream or serum at an average of  $236.54.

A resurgence in the marketplace for high-price creams and serums has found no shortage of consumers willing to spend $125 and more for potent moisturizers that promise younger skin.

Some of these facial creams also have specific, exotic ingredients, such as snail serum. Products are marketed to tighten, plump and lift your skin, but pricey due to their manufacturing process. For example, Michael Todd True Organics’ Knu Anti-aging Cream, is fortified with alpha hydroxy acids, organic fruit stem cells at a cost of $150 a jar, but without any preservatives or fillers according to the company’s chairman, Lewis Hendler.

Some say the resurgence is because some customers like the , and the luxurious experience at the counter; it’s something that you can’t find in a drugstore.  Others wonder if a high price tag on a jar of complexion cream is a real indicator of its effectiveness, which is something that consumers wrestle with as they compare other brands with the same ingredients selling for less.

Magic Ingredients, But Do they Work?

According to physicians, ingredients like retinoid, glycolic, and alpha hydroxy acids are the proven ticket to better skin. But these ingredients can be found in lower-priced skin care creams with comparable results.

Still, some consumers will always seek the latest trends or signature products when it comes to beauty and skin care even when a high price is attached to them.

A more practical solution for many people is to skip the high-priced products and seek out a proven skin treatment, such as a chemical peel or microdermabrasion. The result will often be superior, and you can avoid the hassle and price tag that may come with departments store skin care products.

Photo by AngryJulieMonday, on Flickr

Thirty years ago, Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles granted its first wish to a sick child, and since then has made a difference in the lives of thousands. This winter, I am proud to be one of the sponsors of the Season of Wishes Holiday Campaign, an annual event that celebrates the heartwarming stories of local wish children. As part of the campaign, there will be public nights of wish granting in Glendale over the course of six weeks.

This year’s campaign representative is Melissa Gomez Mosqueda, a nine-year-old from Long Beach. Last year, her wish to have a computer and “super-secret” toys was granted, and her adorable smile is featured on the materials for this year’s event.

Season of Wishes is celebrated across the country by all 62 Make-A-Wish chapters, but it began right here in California, with the first event in Los Angeles in 2005. Breena Gold, President and CEO of the Greater Los Angeles chapter, recently wrote: “We encourage everyone in the community to join us and experience a wish celebration for themselves and see the joy that these events bring not only to the children and their families, but to all involved. Our wish kids will inspire you with their determination and the imagination of their wishes.”

To learn more about each wish child and their special wish, you can visit the websites of the official media partners for the campaign: FOX 11 (myfoxla.com) and KOST 103.5 FM (kost1035.com). To donate to Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles, or learn more about the campaign, you can visit their website.

The next presentation night is taking place on Tuesday, November 27 at 6 p.m. at The Americana at Brand. I hope to see you there!

There was a time when men in cosmetic surgeons’ offices were rare specimens. But there is a cultural shift happening in America today. In recent years, more cosmetic surgeons have been reported higher rates of male patients.

As a result of this shift, there has been greater awareness around men’s issues, especially gynecomastia. This is a common condition that affects roughly 4% of males aged 10 to 19. However, gynecomastia can occur at almost any age. Many of my patients have asked: what is gynecomastia, and what causes it?

What is gynecomastia? The word “gynecomastia” is derived from the Greek words for “woman” and “breast.” All men have – at the very least – a very small amount of breast tissue. Gynecomastia is an enlargement of this glandular tissue in the male breast.

What causes gynecomastia? In almost all cases, gynecomastia is the result of a hormonal imbalance. While all men and women have male and female hormones, the emergence of sexual traits is tied to the balance between the two. Women have more estrogens than man, while men have more androgens than women. When these hormones become imbalanced, this can result in abnormal development.

So gynecomastia is usually a side effect? Yes – it almost always results from another problem in the body. Gynecomastia can result from the use of different medications, as well as medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism, chronic kidney failure, and cirrhosis.

Does gynecomastia have anything to do with obesity? No – this is a common misconception. Gynecomastia has no ties to obesity, although obesity can result in what is known as “pseudo gynecomastia.” This refers to overly large breasts resulting from fat deposits in the chest. While they look similar, these fatty deposits will often disappear with weight loss. They can also be removed with liposuction.

What is the treatment for gynecomastia? Once the original cause of the hormonal imbalance has been resolved, gynecomastia can be treated with male breast reduction surgery. This procedure involves removing the excess breast tissue and re-sculpting the chest for a more natural appearance.

For the past hundred years, plastic surgery has been largely concerned with changing people’s appearances. But what about changing their voices? According to a recent post on RealSelf, injectable procedures that can enhance vocal performances are becoming more popular – although many doctors consider these procedures to be too risky.

Like everything else, the voice naturally ages as we get older. British journalist Lynne Wallis, who found that she was sounding older, discovered a procedure called the “voice lift.” During this procedure, says the Daily Mail, “fat is taken from the stomach and grafted on to the vocal folds to plump them up and enhance voice performance.” This is a variant on facial fat grafting, which has become increasingly popular as an alternative to facial implants for lip and cheek augmentation.

In the United States, this procedure is commonly used for cosmetic purposes and can cost up to $25,000. In the United Kingdom, it can be used for medical purposes, in order to help patients with medical problems – such as recovery from throat cancer. Dermal fillers can also be used to alter the vocal cords. These procedures work by plumping up the cords so that the voice sounds less crackly.

However, the injections are limited in their effectiveness, and only tend to improve the voice for a few weeks. Plastic surgeons will almost always decline to surgically alter a normal voice because the risks and benefits are completely out of balance. It’s the same reason why we don’t perform surgical rejuvenation on the hands – these parts of the body are fragile and perform an essential function in everyday life.

In general, these procedures are very risky, and can be very expensive. Anyone considering a voice lift should consult with a surgeon who specializes in problems with the voice, and has experience using fat grafting or dermal fillers. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to help your voice remain young – quit smoking, limit alcohol intake, and avoid straining your voice.

It’s one of the most common questions that I hear from my patients: how will my breast implants impact cancer screening? Many of my breast augmentation patients have friends or family members who have suffered with breast cancer. Some have even fought the disease themselves. Although breast implants can make mammogram images more difficult to read for some radiologists, mammograms remain an effective cancer screening method for women with breast implants.

Questions about cancer screening have surrounded breast implants for decades. As a result, there have been numerous studies into any possible links between implants and breast cancer. One of the largest studies was conducted by the National Cancer Institute beginning in 1992. This study, which followed 13,500 women over the course of more than a decade, found no link between breast implants and breast cancer risk.

You can read the report yourself at the NCI website. One of the most surprising findings was that women with implants were actually found to be at a lower risk for breast cancer. The study also addresses another common concern: do women with breast implants tend to have more advanced cancer diagnosis?

The answer is no. Breast implants appear opaque under mammography, which can make the images more difficult to read for radiologists. However, two large epidemiologic studies showed that there were no differences in stage at diagnosis or survival rates among implant versus non-implant patients.

In short, mammograms are still an effective screening method for women with implants, and have not been linked to greater instances of breast cancer. However, if you have breast implants, you can take some extra steps to ensure proper screening. Some radiologists have experience reading mammograms with breast implants, so you should find a clinic that regularly examines breast augmentation patients.

More than anything, it’s important that you have regular breast-cancer screenings, and contact your doctor if you feel any lumps or irregularities.

Last month, I wrote about the role of Botox in the physical rehabilitation of a British girl who suffered a stroke at the age of 15. But what are some of the other non-cosmetic uses for Botox?

A quick refresher: Botox Cosmetic is a popular nonsurgical alternative to facelift. Like Dysport, Botox is made from botulinum toxin, which has the ability to inhibit nerve signals at targeted muscles. Botox Cosmetic has become the most popular cosmetic procedure in the country since it was introduced in 2002. However, Botox is been used for therapeutic purposes for several decades.

Chronic migraines. These blinding headaches can often be caused by pressure on certain facial nerves. Botox relaxes certain muscles on the face, which relieves pressure on these nerves. Brow lift surgery, curiously enough, has also been shown to cure certain types of chronic migraines.

Teeth grinding. Can you imagine the shock of waking up in searing pain – to find a cracked or broken tooth? People often grind their teeth in their sleep, which causes serious wear and tear over time. Botox can relax certain jaw muscles to diminish or even eliminate involuntary teeth grinding.

Excessive sweating. Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition that involves severe sweating from the armpits. Antiperspirants are often unable to help. In the same way that Botox is able to block nerve signals to muscles, it can also block signals to sweat glands. This inhibits excess sweating at the source.

Overactive bladder. Recent research has shown that Botox may be able to treat people with urge incontinence. A new study of nearly 250 women showed that a one-time injection in the bladder worked as well as daily pills after six months.

Hay fever. Even I was surprised to hear about this one. Australian researchers are conducting a trial of a Botox gel that could provide relief to sufferers of hayfever for up to three months. By applying the gel within the nasal cavity, it penetrates the tissue and blocks local nerve endings. If successful, this treatment could provide relief for hayfever sufferers worldwide.

Over the past several years, shapely curves have supplanted stick figures in our popular conception of beauty. Butt augmentation is one of the fastest-growing cosmetic procedures in the United States, with fat grafting and implants being the most widespread methods. But which type of surgery provides the best results? Based on a study in the September issue of American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery, it seems that patients may be more satisfied with implants compared to fat grafting.

Butt Augmentation 101

Many of my patients, when they think of butt implants, imagine something akin to breast implants: a silicon shell containing liquid. In fact, buttocks implants are made of solid silicone. They are tough, durable, and yet also soft – so that the results feel natural. During augmentation surgery, these implants can be carefully positioned to improve the contour of your buttocks.

Fat grafting is also used by many cosmetic surgeons to enhance natural curves. This procedure uses your own natural body fat, which can be extracted through liposuction or a large-bore needle. After the fat is treated, it can be injected at numerous sites.

Butt Implants vs. Fat Grafting

This new study compared butt implants and fat grafting to determine whether one technique was superior to the other in terms of complications, postoperative pain, and overall patient satisfaction. It involved 129 cases between 2008 and 2011. Thirty-three of the patients had undergone fat grafting, while 96 received buttocks implants.

The researchers found that patients who received implants were significantly more satisfied (76 percent) than those who received fat grafts (69.7 percent). Naturally, with these different types of procedures, there are different risks involved. Implant patients proved more likely to develop seromas, while fat-grafting patients were more likely develop lumps or dents.

What Does this Mean for You?

According to the researchers, the results of fat grafting “are not as consistent as those seen with buttock implant augmentation. This consistency of results is offset by the risk of capsular contracture and dehiscence, which are seen in implant surgery.” There are significant differences between the risks and rewards of these different approaches to buttocks augmentation. Before committing to either approach, it’s important that you consult with a fully qualified cosmetic surgeon, to find the technique that fits your needs.

A stroke at any age is a traumatic experience. At the age of 15, however, it’s almost unthinkable. That’s what happened to Mel Strzebrakowska, a British girl who suffered a stroke while celebrating her father’s birthday at home. It may come as a surprise to many that Botox injections have proven to be an important part of her recovery.

Since 2002, Botox Cosmetic has been used to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles on faces around the world. Along with Dysport, it is highly popular as a non-surgical alternative to facelift. But many people don’t know that Botox has a long history of therapeutic applications. One of its original uses was to inhibit muscle spasms. The same properties that allow it to relax targeted facial muscles have proven invaluable for people with chronic illnesses – as well as those undergoing physical recovery.

Mel remembers nothing about the day that she suffered her stroke, except waking up in intensive care. “I tried to scramble out of bed, but my legs collapsed, and my right hand wouldn’t work either,” she told the Daily Mail. “I didn’t know what was wrong. Then the doctors told me I’d had a stroke.

“I couldn’t take it in. I was so young. I couldn’t believe it had happened to me.”

A stroke occurs when the rupture or blockage of a blood vessel results in a lack of oxygen in the brain. Normally this condition occurs in older people, as the risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Strokes in younger people are unusual. Mel had an abnormal connection between blood vessels in her brain; this malformation had ruptured and caused the stroke.

Mel’s physical recovery was long and slow. She experienced weakness along the entire right side of her body and was unable to walk. Even three months after her stroke, she still needed a wheelchair. Her right hand was continually clenched into a fist – a common condition known as post-stroke spasticity.

How did Botox help? Muscle-relaxing drugs can usually treat post-stroke spasticity, but these drugs usually have side effects. Many patients are unable to tolerate them. “The problem with medication is that the drugs are usually taken orally, so they affect the whole body and brain and can thus cause drowsiness, while Botox targets the stiff muscles directly and does not have these systemic side-effects,” neurologist David Werring, MD, told the Mail.

Mel is currently participating in a program that has combined regular Botox treatments with ongoing physiotherapy. Although the program is a clinical trial, so she may be receiving either Botox or a placebo, Mel has found that she is gradually regaining control of her right hand.

“Without the treatment, my hand is stiff and I can’t use it properly,” Mel told the Daily Mail. “Now, at last, I can use my right hand again, and can wash and grip and release small objects. And now that the right side of my body is much more flexible, at last I can enjoy going clubbing with friends.”

Photo credit: Chris Winter, The Daily Mail

When my patients ask how long their Botox results will last, I usually tell them between three and six months.

How long Botox will last naturally varies from person to person – depending on their skin type and physiology. But can your Botox results be extended through the use of dietary supplements? A small clinical trial seems to show that zinc can “keep wrinkles at bay for 30% longer,” according to the Daily Mail.

The trial, published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, found that 92 percent of patients taking a particular mineral supplement reported Botox results lasting several weeks longer than normal. The patients also reported that the Botox injection took effect more quickly.

The supplement, known as Zytaze, contains a dose of zinc combined with phytase (an enzyme that helps the body absorb zinc). The pill is being sold for significantly more than standard zinc supplements, according to the Daily Mail article. In fact, on a per-unit basis, it costs over 55 times more than the basic zinc supplements that can be found in British drugstores.

Why the high cost? According to the British distributor of the supplements, Eden Aesthetics, the pill is unique and is able to reduce the price of Botox for regular users. As well, they claim, cheaper zinc supplements don’t have the same effect.

How might this work? Many experts believe that zinc is required in order for products like Botox and Dysport to be effective. The phytase enzyme contained in Zytaze can reduce the time it takes for zinc to break down inside your body. By combining the two, it is believed that Zytaze may be able to boost the longevity of Botox.

Should you run out and buy zinc tablets? Probably not. The intrepid writers over at Nursing Times point out that the trial was small, with only 77 people receiving the Zytaze supplement. As well, some people experienced problems with the Botox working too well. Whenever I hear stories like these, my prescription is always the same: a grain of salt. Until further studies are conducted, you should consult your doctor before pairing zinc supplements with Botox.

Are facial implants better than facelift surgery? That’s the question posed by a recent post on RealSelf, an online community dedicated to health and beauty. While blogger K. Mathews makes some interesting points about the benefits of facial implants, it’s not really the case that implants are “better” than facelift surgery. Instead, these two procedures are aimed towards solving different problems.

Facial Contouring with Implants

Using solid silicone implants, cosmetic surgeons can recontour different facial features, such as the cheeks, chin, nose, and jaw. However, as Mathews notes, facial implants don’t have the same kind of wrinkle-fighting power that facelift surgery does.

Mathews identifies several reasons why many patients opt for facial implants. It is considered to be less invasive, and has a shorter recovery period. Patients can exercise greater control over their results, since they can choose the size and shape of the implant. As well, the implant can stay indefinitely, or be removed fairly easily. On the surface, then, facial implants seem to be preferable to a facelift.

Why Facelift?

It’s true that facial implants are excellent at restoring lost facial volume. They can also add balance and definition to your facial features. There is no question that, for many patients, facial implants might be better than facelift surgery. Patients who want to add volume without the use of facial implants may also benefit from injectable fillers such as Juvederm.

However, in many other ways, facelift surgery offers benefits that simply can’t be matched by facial implants. Sagging skin is one of the most recognizable signs of aging – one that cannot be concealed by adding volume. When it comes to sagging tissues, which cause prominent jowls and folds of skin, nothing can match the rejuvenative power of facelift surgery.