6 Anti-Aging Secrets from Dermatologists

botox injection around eye
botox injection around eye

These treatments are dermatologists' best-kept secrets for helping your skin look younger.

Battle of the Wrinkle Fixers

In a matchup between Botox and newcomer Dysport, researchers at UCSF measured eye creases in 90 women and men, injected Dysport on one side and Botox on the other, and examined the participants a month later. The results: Dysport produced a "better smoothing effect and clearing of lines around the eyes," reports study head Corey Maas, M.D., associate clinical professor of plastic surgery. Participants agreed, preferring Dysport two to one. But the study itself may have wrinkles, say critics who question the dosages of drugs used. Keep your eyes open for updates on the patients after nine months and other new findings.



woman getting botox in forehead
woman getting botox in forehead


The Best Filler

The Problem: Horizontal lines

The Fix: Hyaluronic acid fillers smooth lines; they're diluted to prevent lumps.

The Cost:$600 to $800






woman getting botox on face
woman getting botox on face



The Solution for Vertical Tendons

The Problem: Vertical tendons

The Fix: Botox relaxes tendons/muscles, making them less prominent.

The Cost: $600 to $1,700

Related Link: Find the Perfect Anti-Aging Foundation





lines in neck
lines in neck


The Solution for Sagging Skin

The Problem: Sagging

The Fix: Ulthera tightens skin and stimulates collagen (results in three to four months).

The Cost: $2,500 to $5,000






smooth legs
smooth legs

A Better Solution for Varicose Veins

When it comes to getting rid of bulging varicose veins, a recent German study found that the traditional surgical approach and the newer laser-blasting were equally effective. But cosmetically, patients were far happier with the laser treatment, which involves just a tiny, spaghetti strand-size puncture for insertion of a probe. Surgery calls for two incisions (a two-inch cut at the groin and a half-inch cut at the ankle) in order to tie off and strip the vein, so scarring is significantly greater. Usually the laser procedure is much less painful, too, says Enrique Ginzburg, M.D., associate professor of surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Related Link: 4 Foods that Fight Wrinkle




woman getting botox between eyes
woman getting botox between eyes

A New Youth Shot

Welcome Xeomin, the latest treatment for those furrows that form between your eyes. Does the new injectable, available this spring in doctors' offices, have any advantages over earlier shots? Its price for doctors is lower, so it may be a little cheaper for patients. And while the company says Xeomin (like Botox) may take seven days to work, it seems to kick in faster, notes William P. Coleman III, M.D., clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane. Another reason Dr. Coleman is happy about Xeomin: "It's always good to have more choices. If a patient doesn't improve enough with one drug, we can try another."




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