Forget the bubbling pond that was the obsession of Ponce de Leon. If the Spanish explorer were alive today, he'd discover that the Fountain of Youth isn't a place, but a procedure.
The technology being used to thwart aging is formidable. From teeth that fuse into a jawbone to stem-cell facial treatments to laser-based hair-growth devices, a host of innovations are drawing increasing numbers of patients eager to get a head start on cheating Father Time.
In all, more than 10.2 million cosmetic-surgery procedures were performed in the U.S. in 2005, up 11 percent from 2004, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
Facelifts still have their place among the plastic surgery devotees, but they're far from being the only way to make 50 into the new 40, or 40 the new 30. Thanks to the latest non-invasive options, both men and women are taking advantage of tech that eradicates fine lines, age spots, droopy skin, and body fat without having to go under the knife.
New Wrinkles
Although many treatments are being used by those who slam into the big 5-0 with crow's feet, a thinning pate, or sagging skin, aesthetic procedures aren't limited to the (slightly) older set.
Doctors note that with the increasing sophistication of technology, smaller-scale procedures are finding broad appeal among those in their 30s and 40s. Some people in their late 20s have signed up for a procedure called a "facial refresh," as a kind of insurance policy against wrinkles and aging.
Even teenagers pop in sometimes -- for rhinoplasty, tummy tucks, or breast augmentation -- after watching reality TV shows like "Extreme Makeover" that chronicle how a few nips and tucks can change someone's overall appearance.
Within the past five years in particular, a focus on technology has refined many procedures, and sometimes even significantly reduced costs for having cosmetic work done. Whereas a traditional facelift averages between $5,000 and $7,000 in the U.S., a series of Botox injections costs far less, at about $200 to $400 per prick. The big savings come because non-invasive treatments save on surgery time, anesthesia, hospital stays, and recovery costs.
According to the ASPS, minimally invasive procedures have increased 53 percent since 2000. Facial rejuvenation, in particular, has been moving toward outpatient treatments.
Within the past six years, total surgical cosmetic procedures have decreased by 5 percent, with forehead lifts and facelifts showing the largest decreases. But over the same period, Botox injections have increased a whopping 388 percent, and laser skin resurfacing by 59 percent, according to the ASPS. (continued...)
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