Considering Cosmetic Surgery?

Now that cosmetic surgery is more socially acceptable and increasingly affordable, many of us are considering having a little work done. Here's a rundown of some of the most popular procedures and treatments.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the most popular cosmetic medical procedures are chemical peels -- skin exfoliation with acids -- followed by collagen injections. Collagen forms the protein matrix of the skin, and is responsible for skin’s plumpness and firmness.

But collagen injections are derived from either cow, cadaver, or living human skin. Given the lack of uniform screening standards for cows and human cadavers (not to mention the creepiness factor) and the fact that allergy tests are required before using bovine collagen for injections, doctors are excited about the newer synthetic soft injectable fillers such as Restylane and Radiesse.

Botox injections, which paralyze wrinkle-forming muscles, are also highly popular, and are even more effective before wrinkles begin. "The needle is fine and patients feel just a brief, stinging pinch," says Cincinnati plastic surgeon Jean M. Loftus, M.D., author of The Smart Woman's Guide to Plastic Surgery (Contemporary Books, 2000). Depending on the facial injections involved, Botox treatments range from $400 to $1,000 and results last four to six months.

One of the newest surgical procedures is the endoscopic brow-lift, which is designed to eliminate hooded eyes and forehead and brow wrinkles by elevating the eyebrows and cheeks. "This can strategically reshape the brow and enhance the outer sweep, that glamorous arch of the eye," says Beverly Hills, Calif., plastic surgeon Randal Haworth. Costing anywhere from $5,000 to $6,000, the 1 1/2-hour surgery causes swelling and bruising, and recovery may take from eight days to two weeks.

Visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Web site for medically accurate information on brow-lifts and other cosmetic surgery procedures. The site can also help you find board-certified plastic surgeons around the country.