DENVER, CO – Many people, men and women alike, experience unwanted hair growth on their bodies and look to various methods of reducing or removing the hair. Shaving, waxing and chemical hair-removal creams are the most rudimentary forms of removal as they are each temporary and need regular application to keep unwanted hair growth at bay.

Breakthroughs in medical lasers over the last 13 years, however, now offer many patients the opportunity to secure long-term or even permanent hair removal, and recent advances in these lasers make the procedure a relatively painless therapy that can solve the problem is as little as a few sessions with minimal healing downtime.

Medical lasers for unwanted hair removal are used under the guidance of a physician and highly trained technicians. These experts report that the most common requests for hair removal come from women experiencing hair growth on their faces, and men who seek to remove excess hair on their backs and torsos.

There are essentially two types of hair removal, depilation and epilation. Depilation refers to removing the hair above the skin line, and in its most common forms involves shaving, trimming and the chemical creams, called depilatories, which have been on the market for decades under such brand names as Neet and Nair. Depilation has been around for centuries, with historical records dating back to ancient Egypt describing the reasons for and the methods through which unwanted hair was removed.

Epilation involves removing the entire hair, including growth under the skin, where such methods as waxing and electrolysis, although the former is temporary at best, and the latter involves treatments that can take as much as two years to complete with satisfaction.

Laser hair removal, on the other hand, has taken hold in recent years as a highly effective hair-removal therapy featuring lasting results and minimal lifestyle changes during treatment.

Using modern medical lasers, hair can be removed from practically any area of the body, including the face, legs, back, arms and even underarms. The type of hair removal that is ideal for each patient depends on a number of factors, including hair color, hair texture, skin color and what is causing the superfluous hair to grow.

Superfluous or excessive hair, sometimes called hirsutism, can be a result of congenital or systemic conditions or even medications that cause abnormal hair growth like steroids and birth control pills. Congenital conditions — the patient’s genetic blueprint — determines the amount, location and timing of hair growth, and treatment schedules and results vary with hair and skin color, ancestry, the location of the unwanted hair, and the size of the hair-removal area.

The latest medical lasers on the market for hair removal are the Cynosure Laser with TKS and the Apogee Elite.

With the Cynosure Laser, a gentle beam of laser light can reduce unwanted hair on men and women in as few as three or four sessions. This relatively quick and painless treatment uses a laser that emits a gentle beam of energy that passes through the skin to the hair follicle. The energy is then transformed into heat which damages the follicle. The scientific principle called Thermokinetic Selectivity (TKS) makes this method of hair removal particularly effective.

The only untreatable areas are those adjacent to the eyes. Fair-skinned patients with dark hair are the ideal candidates, although patients with darker complexions can be treated after a successful test patch. Also, blonde hair does not respond well to laser treatment. Patients with a tan are advised to wait until the tan subsides before receiving laser treatment.

Depending on how large an area is being treated, this procedure can last from a few minutes to more than one hour. The hair is treated with a beam of concentrated laser light that selectively absorbs the melanin in the hair shaft as well as the surrounding hair follicles. Laser procedures can treat hundreds of hair follicles at a time, unlike electrolysis which kills one hair follicle at a time.

For best results, treatments are performed approximately 4 to 6 weeks apart. Lasers tend to treat hair follicles that are in an active growth phase, therefore more than one treatment is generally required to disable hair follicles still growing. After each treatment patients may return to work immediately, and experience some swelling or a burning sensation that typically lasts no more than 24 hours. Blisters and burns are extremely rare but do occur, particularly to patients with dark skin. Although some hair may still be present, shaving is not recommended; less and less hair will be evident over the course of treatments.

With the Apogee Elite Laser, a beam of light is emitted that heats the target area or hair follicle and the light energy damages the target while sparing the surrounding skin. In addition to treating unwanted hair, the Apogee Elite treats small facial veins, bluish-purple leg veins and spider veins. And it works on all skin types including dark and tanned skin.

The number of sessions needed to treat unwanted hair using the Apogee Elite laser depends on the selected treatments and the skin and hair type. Sessions are usually 10 to 15 minutes long, although larger areas, like full leg, may take longer.

After treatment, exfoliation will occur naturally in 7 to 14 days and during this time, patients may shave, but plucking is discouraged. Immediately after treatment with the Apogee Elite laser, normal activities may resume, although a sunscreen may be recommended.

The type of laser used for unwanted hair removal depends on a wide range of factors – hair color, skin color and type, the area being treated, etc. – and the determination is generally made by the physician in consultation with the patient before the treatments begin.

Lasers have become very commonplace in almost every aspect of modern life over the last 40 years a or more, however effective laser hair removal treatments with medical lasers were first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1997. Since that time advancements in laser technology have taken quantum leaps and today the procedure is highly effective and in wide-spread use.

While an estimated 45 million Americans are now tattooed, a report in the New York Times said about 17 percent of them, or more than 7 ½ million people, are experiencing tattoo regret, and a vibrant industry has grown up to meet the demand for tattoo removal.

The most-oft cited reasons for removing a tattoo are erasing the name of a failed romance partner, being more employable as many firms’ dress codes discourage visible tattoos, and brides often requesting a clean slate so the tattoo won’t show in a wedding dress. But whatever the reason for de-inking one’s body, people discover that removing a tattoo is quite a bit more complicated, not to mention expensive, than getting the body art in the first place.

Tattoos have been around since ancient times, and so too have tattoo removal techniques. Going back to the age of the Egyptian Pharaohs and later the Roman Empire, tattoo removal involved various salts and chemicals, combined with often painful abrasion, and except for very small examples, these processes weren’t terribly successful. In fact, while tattoos have continued in popularity in certain circles for centuries, tattoo removal remained a relatively barbaric procedure with limited results until very recent times.

Plastic surgeons and dermatologists had a few tools in their kit bag for a long time that offered some tattoo removal relief, including dermabrasion, essentially “sanding the skin” over time until it is inkless, and surgical removal, which is very effective but can only be used on very small tattoos.

In the 1980s, with the advent of lasers into modern medicine, a CO2 laser being used for tattoo removal began to show promising results in removing or reducing the ink stains. The drawback of the technology in these early-stage lasers, however, was that doctors needed to go very slowly due to the heat and potential skin damage, making the process of tattoo removal a long, many-session procedure.

But new laser technology has changed the game and for the first time in history tattoo removal, even for large tattoos, has become a relatively painless and often quite effective process.

Previously, the removal of a tattoo left an unsightly scar, but using the MedLite® laser, a Q-Switched  Nd: YAG laser, the laser of choice in this class of laser, any tattoo can be significantly lightened and reduced, even across a wide variety of tattoo inks. The MedLite laser uses rapid absorption of light energy that causes the tattoo ink to break into tiny particles that can be flushed from the body’s system naturally. And the best part is that the MedLite laser leaves the surrounding tissue, the area that is not tattooed, unharmed.

The tattoo laser procedure may take anywhere between 10 minutes to one hour depending on the tattoo. Continuous high-powered laser pulses lasting for less than one millionth of a second are aimed at the tattoo. Due to the fact that not all tattoo colors respond the same to lasers, multiple lasers may be needed. In order to allow time for skin to heal and the body to absorb and dissolve the ink, this procedure will most likely need to be completed in multiple sessions over several months.

Under the direction of a trained technician and physician, the area to be treated is cleansed and a gel applied along with a numbing cream or local anesthetic in some cases. The laser is then passed back and forth over the tattoo to break up the color pigments, making them small enough to be absorbed by the body and therefore “disappear.” After the procedure, an antibiotic ointment or sunscreen is applied to the treated areas. Patients may return to work immediately following treatment, although a sensation of sun burn is generally experienced, and can be eased with pain medication. Scabbing, crusting or slight bleeding lasts two to seven days, and redness will disappear and the ink will fade within days.

Costs vary, of course, with the size of the tattoo, the colors involved and the number of session required to get the job done, but prices can range from $200 and up per session – quite a bit more expense than the actual tattoo.

But for those with tattoo regret, tattoo removal or reduction may be cheap at twice the price.

For Denver laser tattoo removal look to Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics in Denver’s popular Cherry Creek North shopping and dining district. Under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Raval, MD, FACS, Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics also perform hair reduction, vein reduction and a variety of skin rejuvenation services. For more information visit http://www.rockymountainlaser.com/services.html.

More skin cancers were found on the left sides of the faces of the 1047 patients studied. The findings showed that more men than women have cancerous melanomas on their left sides, possibly because women are often the passenger of a male driver.

52.6% of men and women had skin cancers on the left side

47.4% had skin cancers on the right side

More malignant melanomas occurred on the left (74%) than on the right (26%)

82% of skin cancers occurred on sun-exposed areas of the head and neck

92% of skin cancers occurred on sun-exposed areas of the arms and hands.

The study warned that a people should wear sunscreen that blocks both the UVA and UVB rays. Non-laminated clear glass on automobiles blocks UVB rays but allows 63% of UVA rays to pass through to the people inside the car.

Read the label of your sunscreen to ensure that it blocks both type of damaging rays, says Dr. Jeffrey Raval who recommends patients use a sunscreen that’s rated 30 or higher.

Researchers from the University of Michigan, writing in the health journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, say those using tanning beds have three times the chance of developing melanoma, one of the most deadly forms of skin cancer.

“As a health care professional focusing on skin care, I find the tanning bed craze unfathomable,” says Dr. Jeffrey Raval, MD, FACS, a Denver facial plastic surgeon and otolaryngologist who is owner and medical director of Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics. “I see the effects of sun damage every day – early-onset wrinkles, loss of skin tone, pigmentation problems, even skin cancers – and I want young women to know the adverse health effects and long-term detriments of excessive tanning and tanning beds far outweigh the short-term benefits. My older patients would advise their younger sisters to take care of their skin now so that they will age more slowly and protect their health.”

Melanoma skin cancer results in nearly 10,000 deaths per year, and one of the key findings in the new study is that average age of those being diagnosed with the disease is getting younger. Indeed, researchers note that skin cancer is now the most common form of cancer diagnosed in young adults, with the increase showing up most notably in young women.

Tanning salons have been around for decades, but the industry really took off in the 1990s with new technology for tanning beds. Since that time the phenomenon has grown into a more than billion-dollar industry. The damaging health effects off tanning beds have been discussed for some time. In fact, in an effort to dampen the popularity of tanning beds, the new health care legislation pushed by the Obama Administration contains a 10% tax on tanning bed services, a levy which goes into effect in July 2010.

Dr. Raval, a skin care specialist, recommends that people avoid tanning beds and excessive exposure to sun. Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics specializes in a wide variety of skin-care procedures and techniques, including hair reduction, tattoo reduction, vein reduction and anti-aging skin care. Many of the procedures performed at Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics involve the use of modern medical lasers, and Dr. Raval and his staff also feature a full line of both prescription and non-prescription skin care products designed to fight the effects of aging and protect the skin from sun and environmental damage.

“Tanning beds are really not a good idea,” says Dr. Raval. “They may even be addictive in that using them has been shown to release endorphins in the body. Everybody, but especially young people, should avoid tanning beds, and they should use skin-care products that include sun blocks and provide skin moisturizing. With proper skin care people will be healthier, and they will maintain their youthful appearance and skin tine far beyond their friends using tanning beds.”

At Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics , Dr. Raval and his medical assistants stress wearing SPF 30 at a minimum. Dr. Raval carries RavalRx, a proprietary line of skincare products he has developed to meet the needs of his patients, plus Obaji, Nia 24, Vivite, La Roche-Posay and SkinCeuticals. Sun protection lotions and crèmes are part of each product line available in the clinic and online at www.ravalmd.com, the facial plastic surgery arm of Dr. Raval’s practice sharing the same office.

Dr. Raval and his aestheticians use Visia® Complexion Analysis to map a patient’s face and the resulting sun damage, perhaps the biggest contributor to aging skin, wrinkles and brown spots as well as melanomas. This topographic map is then interpreted by Dr. Raval and his medical techs to determine specific recommended treatments for each individual patient.

Using a variety of skin-smoothing treatments from Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) FotoFacial Laser Therapy to Sciton Laser Ultimate Laser Peel, Sciton MicroLaserPeel, Sciton Profractional Peel, Sciton ClearScan, and Sciton BBL Photofacial, medical aestheticians and the doctor restore a youthful glow to patients’ complexions, erasing wrinkles and fine lines. These laser treatments also promote the development of collagen, the connective protein contained in skin cells that keeps the skin taut, firm and young looking.

“Most of the skin damage we see on patients occurred before age 18,” adds Dr. Raval. “It can be 20 years before melanoma appear. And not all melanomas show up in areas that are exposed to the sun. We’ve had patients display melanomas inside their ears or between their toes, underscoring the importance of regular self-exams and annual physical exams at minimum.”

For more information on skin-care laser treatments and skin-care products available at Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics, visit www.rockymountainlaser.com or call 303-985-8520. The clinic is located at 250 Steele St., Denver, CO 80206 in Denver’s famed Cherry Creek North neighborhood.

DENVER, CO— Acne sufferers can find a good measure of relief with cutting-edge photodynamic therapies and lasers, as well new topical treatments, however a predisposition for acne combined with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), particularly Compulsive Skin Picking (CSP), can be result in skin scarring that may require the intervention of licensed psychologists, reports Dr. Jeffrey Raval, MD, FACS, clinic director and manager of Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics in Denver’s Cherry Creek North neighborhood.

Repetitive picking at one’s own skin to the extent of causing damage is usually limited to the face, says Dr. Raval, though OCD organizations like OCD LA report that the picking can extend to any part of the body. Patients with Dermatillomania, Neurotic Excoriation, or CSP pick at freckles and moles, at pre-existing scabs, sores or acne blemishes, or even at imagined skin defects that nobody else can see. They use fingernails, teeth, or tweezers and pins causing bleeding, infection and permanent scarring.

Another term for the disorder is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) which is an obsessive preoccupation with a perceived physical defect. The cocktail of the disease topped off with typical teenage acne or adult acne for that matter is just starting to be studied. A recent study found that 23% of the patients in the test group diagnosed with OCD and 27% of those with BDD, also had CSP.

Sometimes the picking is prompted by an itch or urge or it can be a conscious response to anxiety or depression. But often it is an unconscious habit, says Dr. Raval.

“Our practice is to refer suspected cases of OCD to licensed psychologists,” says Dr. Raval.

One of the forms of treatment that has been shown to work is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy called Habit Reversal Training, he adds. “The patient learns to identify the triggers to skin picking and then learns to adopt alternative behaviors vs. picking.

Beyond the behavioral issues, Dr. Raval treats acne, and other forms of facial skin blemishes, with a variety of high-tech therapies and topical therapies.

“In our practice then, we treat the cycle of inflammatory acne vulgaris using both the BLU-U Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator Model 4170 to control moderate acne, or Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) laser for more advanced cases,” says Dr. Raval.

The BLU-U is a special blue light that kills the Propionibacterium acnes, often referred to P. acnes bacteria, in the skin in 15-minute sessions twice a week. The BLU-U unclogs the sebaceous glands beneath the skin’s surface which allow p. acnes to grow inside forming a pimple often noticeable because of the swelling.

Photodynamic therapy takes only 20 minutes per treatment and there is no downtime, just some peeling after treatment. Patients show a significant reduction in acne, unwanted pigmentation and blotchiness in the skin. Plus the results are long lasting and the skin texture is improved.

The third treatment used at Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics is NeoBenz™ Micro, a topical treatment that is proven to work fast against whiteheads, blackheads and inflamed pimples. NeoBenz combines benzoyl peroxide, a powerful antibacterial medication, that kills the p. acnes bacteria that causes acne as well as reducing inflammation, opening plugged hair follicles and slowing the formation of whiteheads and blackheads. It comes in different strengths depending on one’s intensity of acne.

“Overcoming the compulsion to pick at one’s skin is not achieved overnight, but certainly beating acne at a dermatological level underscores successful treatment,” adds Dr. Raval.

Visit www.rockymountainlaser.com for information on skin care treatments for acne scaring.

Diller writes that her female patients claim that they feel better, more capable and more productive at an older age than they did when younger. And yet these same women aren’t comfortable looking their chronological age. Some, like Jane Fonda opt for cosmetic surgery even when she announced years prior that she wouldn’t have yet another surgery. Others like actress Helen Mirren are all for it. Mirren even went so far as to say that she would have thought about cosmetic surgery sooner had she NOT been so much in the public eye.

Interestingly, Dr. Jeffrey Raval sees more patients today foregoing wholesale cosmetic treatments like full facelifts and instead opting for series of smaller, ongoing treatments.

“What we hear from our patients is that they have less time to devote to recovery from larger medical procedures,” says Dr. Jeffrey Raval, medical director and owner of Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics which is located in the same offices as his facial plastic surgery practice, Raval Facial Aesthetics. “Women’s schedules today are booked solid. We often hear our patients exclaim that they’ve never worked harder or longer hours than they have in the last 1 ½ years since the economic downturn. They are busier than ever but don’t want to ignore the signs of aging that happen to all of us. So they’re relying on skin treatments that don’t require any time off.”

Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics offers rejuvenating filler injections that can take years off of one’s looks. Injections along with regular laser treatments to smooth away fine wrinkles and leave the skin texture and color even and baby soft go a long way toward keeping a fresh, youthful look.

Contact www.rockymountainlaser.com today for a consultation.

Denver, Colo.—The inevitable loss of collagen as we age causes the skin to look decades older than it has to. It sags. It loses elasticity. Wrinkles and creases begin to form in place of plump, healthy younger-looking skin. Now there’s a system to rebuild collagen and Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics is leading the way.

There is no downtime when treated using the Cynosure laser.

Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics has invested heavily in state-of-the-art lasers that have laser tips that are adaptable to perform a wide variety of specialized skin treatments.

The Sciton laser is used to perform The Ultimate Laser Peel, the MicroLaserPeel, the Profractional, CLeARSCAN™ and the BBL Photofacial. One of the laser tips uses with the Sciton is the SkinTyte laser that deeply heats dermal collagen, promoting partial denaturation and contraction of collagen. The heat also initiates the body’s natural healing process which encourages new production of natural collagen resulting in firmer skin. During treatments—a series of two to three are recommended over a month’s time—the powerful cooling mechanism maintains the surface of the skin at a cool temperature.

Yet, it’s the expert aesthetic technicians at Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics that perform the diagnosis of each patient’s skin condition, building a treatment plan for individuals that is customized specifically to their needs. The results of these rejuvenating laser treatments begin to be apparent to the naked eye a couple of weeks into the series of treatments.

Make an appointment for a consultation to learn what laser treatment is recommended to repair damaged skin, inspire collagen production and smooth away wrinkles and creases. Go online to www.rockymountainlaser.com or call the clinic at 303-985-8520.

A number of factors like our age, sun exposure and skin care regiment affect our skin. There is not one magic cure-all for wrinkles, but advances in dermatology are significantly improving wrinkle prevention and reduction treatments. Take charge in the battle against aging. Pollution strips the skin of vitamin E, smoking elevates carbon monoxide levels in blood, which causes the formation of free radicals, and UV exposure causes photoaging. The solution for the effects of our environment is antioxidants.

According to the Mayo Clinic, free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules, meaning they have only one electron instead of two. By nature, electrons are found in pairs, and to become stable molecules, the free radicals scavenge for the missing electron, which breaks up another stable molecule. What does that mean for your face? The ongoing process causes mellatoproteinases, or secretion of proteins. Translation: breaks down collagen and causes wrinkles.

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which is why many over-the-counter wrinkle prevention products contain the most common antioxidant, Retinol. Dr. Raval’s new line of prescription wrinkle solutions offers antioxidant C & E Ferulic Serum, which is a highly concentrated antioxidant for maximum wrinkle prevention. It contains vitamins C, which aids in the production of collagen and at this concentration oxidizes slowly. The hydroxyacid provides short-term micro exfoliation and long-term firming and protective benefits. This product is by prescription only so that Dr. Raval, board-certified plastic surgeon, can make sure it is the best product for your personal skin condition. An in-office consultation is required, but this will allow you to purchase the product online for one year.

Make your appointment today at Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics. Call 303-985-8520.

His findings from patient consultations are consistent with a recent study released by the American Academy of Facial and Plastic Surgery in February 2010 showing that 85% of Americans would undergo facial plastic surgery if given the chance and that 80% of those surveyed would prefer that the treatment be performed by a plastic surgeon that specializes in facial surgery.

“It’s really a function of the New Think in our society,” says Dr. Raval of his micro study compared to the general U.S. study. “Specialization is preferred at all service levels today, from Starbucks coffee and Nike shoes globally to the Steadman Clinic locally in Vail. The majority of new patients I see in my practice for dermal fillers to facelifts share with me that they’d rather be treated by a specialist, or a sub-specialist because a more focused pays attention to the little details. It’s the face that others recall about a person. It comes right down to the pores. It’s in the fine details.”

With more than 2.3 million facial plastic procedures (according to the American Academy) performed in 2009, 38,000 were revision surgeries including scar removal, sometimes caused by injuries and other times resulting from facial treatments.

Dr. Raval is multi-board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, and is a fellow of both the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and the American College of Surgeons. His office is located in Cherry Creek North at 250 Steele St., in the heart of Denver’s elite shopping and entertainment district.

Raval Facial Aesthetics, his main practice, is also home to Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics, a laser treatment clinic specializing in hair and tattoo removal and skin rejuvenation procedures including micro dermabrasion, lunch-time peels, and the weekend-facelift which is a hybrid treatment of facial dermal fillers including Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane, Radiesse, Volumalift, Dysport and Puretox plus Botox.

In addition, Dr. Raval recently launched his own proprietary line of prescription-strength skincare products called RavalRX. Essential Night Crème was released in January 2010 and a select group of companion products are due to be released in Spring 2010.

“This trend toward what I call the New Think is the result of patients having more information at their fingertips through the Internet,” says Dr. Raval. “Patients are not simply price-shopping; they’re doing their oun due diligence prior to treatment by interviewing surgeons and their medical backgrounds. Additionally, patients are seeking to align with a cosmetic surgeon who shares the same philosophy. At Raval Facial Aesthetics, we recommend series of smaller, often non-invasive treatments on a regular basis to retain a youthful look without having to go to the extreme. As a rule, patients welcome our approach because it aligns with tighter budgets and reduced downtime.”

Contact Dr. Jeffrey Raval at Raval Facial Aesthetics for information at jeffrey@ravalmd.com or call 303-381-FACE (3223).

Is this a sign the economy is turned around? Or is it a signal that some people won’t forego ongoing cosmetic care that keeps them looking younger and consequently makes them feel younger?

“We see this as a positive,” says Jeffrey Raval, MD, FACS, facial plastic surgeon practicing in Cherry Creek North, the upscale boutique and restaurant epicenter of Denver, CO. “It underscores the value in less invasive procedures like injections done more frequently so as to forestall major cosmetic surgery.”

Dr. Raval operates his practice Raval Facial Aesthetics together with Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics, a laser hair and tattoo removal clinic, in the same location. He has gained the reputation of being The Nose Doc in the Rocky Mountain West by his peer surgeons who have recognized his capabilities especially in revision rhinoplasty, made more complex because of the scar tissue that results from an original nose job. Dr. Raval also has been referred to as The Face Doc for his achievements in treating head and neck needs of patients, particularly in the cosmetic market sector.

“BOTOX is the most commonly used injectable in the cosmetic field,” says Dr. Raval (www.ravalmd.com). “The filler injectables are increasingly preferred because they don’t require the downtime that a traditional face lift or forehead lift or neck lift can require. Patients are short on time, working longer hours, putting in more exhausting weeks. While they’re showing evidence of being more tired, they don’t want to appear tired because it takes away their competitive edge. Filler injectables are the ideal solution to treat this very active and busy patient.”

On Jan. 20, 1010, the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM) released a report that Botox and filler injections will lead the cosmetic treatments performed in 2010 as the country works its way out of the most severe recession in decades.

The editors of Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery concur, releasing a forecast for this year showing Botox at the top of services that patients will find the money to pay for.