Paying for perfection

Paying for perfection

Collagen injections and chemical peels are gaining popularity.
By Raygan Swan
The Indianapolis Star

When Jeff Horton was 15 years old, he couldn't stand the sight of his nose.

"It was what you call a hook nose, and I felt extremely self-conscious about it," said the 36-year-old retailer at Saks Fifth Avenue in Indianapolis.

Making a change was so important to him that, while working as an assistant manager at McDonald's when he was 19, he took out a $6,000 loan for a nose job.

The nose job then turned into cheek bone implants and a chin implant. Necessary for the proportion of his face, he says.

Ten years later, Horton would have his first chemical peel to remove sun damage. Last week, Horton attended his first Botox party in hopes of erasing a few faint lines above his brow.

Performing 'maintenance'

"I know I have a lot done, but I look at it as maintenance and good skin care," he said. "It's like going to the dentist; you don't stop going to the dentist."

Less invasive procedures - Botox, chemical peels and collagen injections - are more popular than ever, especially with men and women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, reports the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

According to the society, from 2000 to 2002, the popularity of peels increased by 25 percent, collagen injections by 48 percent and Botox by 43 percent for this age group.

And you don't need Lasik surgery to see that these enhancements are as easy to get as fast food, says Barry L. Eppley, professor of plastic surgery at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Available to masses

No longer the exclusive territory of the rich, cosmetic services are increasingly available to the masses, which explains the recent growth in popularity, Eppley says.

"There are many more options available to the younger generations because of the explosion in technology and techniques," he says.

Many people are seeing plastic surgeons as early as their 20s, says Theresa Hill, media relations manager for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

"It's not uncommon," she says. "Cosmetic procedures can help turn back the clock and delay the need for major invasive surgery later."

Kate Danley has a very proactive attitude on aging.

The 26-year-old joined her friend Horton and a few others at a recent Botox party.

"See these lines across my forehead? They drive me crazy," she says, just before her injections. "I just want them to go away."

Danley jokes the two visible lines were a former occupational hazard.

"When I was a therapist, I gave these empathetic looks all day, and furrowed my brow a lot," she says.

Now working as a makeup artist at Saks, Danley says she is more critical of her skin than ever.

She says she has always struggled with her skin. At age 15, she had a chemical peel to polish away acne scars.

"I'm sure I care way too much about my appearance, but I think looking your best is important, especially in my profession," she says. "People look to me to be the expert."

Before you decide

Before undergoing any procedure, check out a few things first.

Do your homework before choosing any procedure.

The physician should be educated in the field. Find a plastic surgeon who is an ASPS member, which verifies certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Ask for a consultation, a realistic discussion of patient's desired outcome and a thorough review of treatment options.

Demand a proper medical environment - Botox in a bar would not be a proper medical environment.

Botox by the numbers

A sampling of popular non-evasive cosmetic procedures being used by young adults and others:

146: Percentage increase of people ages 19 to 34 who used Botox from 2000 to 2002.

70,852: Number of adults, ages 19 to 34, who used Botox in 2000.

174,000: Number of adults, ages 19 to 34, who used Botox in 2002.

Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Procedures primer

Chemical peels

Restore wrinkled, blemished, unevenly pigmented or sun-damaged facial skin using a chemical solution to peel away the skin's top layers. Approximately $125 to $500.

Botox injections

Botox, derived from the botulinum toxin, is injected into the skin and works by temporarily paralyzing muscles. It also prevents expression lines. Approximately $200 to $375.

Filler therapy or collagen injections

Unlike Botox, fillers actually add volume under the surface of the skin to plump up creases, divots and hollows from the inside out - a loose comparison would be spackling for the face. The injection is said to last longer than six months. Approximately $350 to $400.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a skin-freshening technique that helps repair facial skin that has taken a beating from the sun and the effects of aging. The plastic surgeon uses a device like a fine sandblaster to spray tiny crystals across the face, mixing abrasion with suction to remove the dead, outer layer of skin. More than one treatment may be needed to reduce or remove fine wrinkles and unwanted pigmentation. Approximately $160.

Over-the-counter options

Referred to as Botox-in-a-jar, creams like L'Oreal's Wrinkle De-Crease, $14.99, and Lancome's Resolution, $68, contain ingredients that allegedly relax your muscles the way Botox does. StriVectin-SD, according to its distributor Klein-Becker, is designed as a stretch-mark reducer. It retails for $135. Visit your local makeup counter for more information.