Procedures You Might Want to Think Twice About
Waxing Why do it: Waxing yanks unwanted body hair out by the roots. It's faster than tweezing and
lasts longer than shaving.
The problem: Burns from hot wax can be severe and are more common than you
might think. Waxing also leaves your body vulnerable to infection. In fact, the FDA advises people with weakened immune systems
to avoid waxing entirely. Anyone using wrinkle creams or acne treatments that contain retinol should also rethink waxing.
Retinol can make skin so sensitive that there's a risk of it peeling off along with the hair. Bigger still is the
worry about topical skin-numbing cream, often used to make waxing and laser hair removal less painful. The drugs in these
creams (like with most anything we use on our skin) can end up in the bloodstream according to the FDA. Results could be fatal
if you use too much of it, or if you use a cream that contains too high a concentration of the numbing ingredients. It's
best to avoid numbing cream, but if you do use it, the FDA says to choose an approved cream, and to use as little of the cream
with the lowest amount of active ingredient as possible. The FDA also recommends leaving the skin uncovered after the procedure.
Pick the cream with your doctor's help—not your hair stylist or spa personnel. Thermage
Why use it: Approved by the FDA in 2002, Thermage uses heat generated by radio waves to give patients
tighter, more taught skin; it's often promoted as a "non-surgical facelift." Oprah first championed the procedure,
which is also known as ThermaCool, in 2003.
The problem: The episodes of "The Oprah Winfrey Show"
that touted the treatment aren't forthcoming about its potential side effects or effectiveness, according to a New York
Times article from 2006. And Thermage doesn't really function as a face-lift substitute. While it can reduce the appearance
of fine wrinkles and acne scars, it's not likely to tighten jowls—patients who go in expecting a miracle probably
will be disappointed. And while side effects are rare, doctors say they often get glossed over in breathless media reports.
Thermage treatments can burn the skin, particularly if a doctor uses a higher setting in pursuit of grander results. The machine
can also "melt" the fat under your skin, leaving you with scars, dents and grooves on your face. Neither complication
is very common, but both happen often enough that doctors say potential patients need to be more aware of the risks. Botox
breast lift By Maggie Koerth-Baker for MSN Health & Fitness Why do it: In spring 2008, high-profile
New York dermatologist Patricia Wexler, M.D., began touting a new way to use Botox. Wexler claimed in interviews that by injecting
the drug into the pectoralis minor chest muscle to temporarily paralyze it, she could make back muscles called rhomboids pick
up the slack, so to speak. She said this forces the patient to stand up straighter, which in turn essentially gives the breasts
a surgery-free "lift."
The problems: "It's nonsense. Worse, it's dangerous nonsense,"
says Michael McGuire, M.D., president-elect of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He and Patrick McMenamin, M.D., president
of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, agree that Wexler's procedure wouldn't work. And both doctors say injecting
anything into the pectoralis minor is dangerous. Hidden beneath larger muscles and very thin, the pectoralis minor sits on
top of the rib cage. On false move, and the needle could puncture a lung. McGuire and McMenamin also worry about whether paralyzing
the pectoralis minor would make breathing more difficult, and whether the amount of Botox needed could reach dangerous levels. Chemical
peels Why get one: Chemical peels, usually creams or serums containing mild fruit acid, can remove
dead skin cells and help clear up acne, according to the Mayo Clinic. Peels can also encourage the growth of new, younger-looking
skin cells.
The problem: Most chemical peels have relatively mild side effects, including a risk of
oddly colored, patchy skin in women who are taking birth control pills; redness, scaling and blisters for those with sensitive
skin; and the possibility of triggering previously dormant cold sores. The real danger comes from at-home peels purchased
online, which have been known to cause painful, scarring burns. The problem is in the concentration. Most effective over-the-counter
alpha-hydroxy acid creams contain about 8 percent concentration of alpha-hydroxy acids, according to the University of Maryland
Medical Center. But you can buy AHA cream online, without a prescription, in concentrations as high as 60 percent. That strength
shouldn't ever be used outside a doctor's office and can be dangerous, particularly if you're used to the 8 percent
cream and didn't realize you were buying something so strong. Permanent makeup Why
get it: Eyeliner, lip and brow color tattooed onto your skin can be a permanent solution for women who want the look of makeup
all the time.
The problem: Colored tattoo ink isn't necessarily designed with the human body in
mind. In fact, the FDA hasn't approved any tattoo inks, and many of the colored inks used for permanent makeup are the
same as those used in the automotive and printing industries. The FDA has received numerous reports of allergic reactions
in women who received makeup tattoos. These tattoos are also notoriously difficult to remove, even with newer technologies.
If you decide later that you'd prefer a different color or no makeup at all, you could easily face multiple painful laser
treatments and no guarantee of completely removing the pigment. UV-activated teeth whitening
Why get it: Everyone wants whiter teeth. Most whitening methods rely on hydrogen peroxide solutions,
but some companies claim the hydrogen peroxide works better and faster when combined with UV lamps.
The problem:
UV lamps not only don't boost the bleaching process, they can be dangerous. In February 2009, research published in the
online version of the Journal of Prosthodontics showed no difference between teeth whitened with a combination of hydrogen
peroxide and light or heat lamps, and those whitened with the solution alone. Using the light also exposes users to startlingly
high levels of cancer-causing UV radiation. One lamp the team tested gave a dose four times as high as what you'd get
from sunbathing for a full afternoon in midsummer. Yikes! Eyelash-thickening drops Why
use them: Newly approved by the FDA, the drug Latisse promises thicker eyelashes. Latisse is actually a lower-dose version
of Lumigan, a drug that's been used to treat glaucoma since 2001. Longer, thicker lashes were a surprising side-effect
for those patients.
The problem: Itching and redness may hamper your ability to make the most of those
lush lashes. Latisse may also darken the skin on your eyelids and even turn your baby blue irises brown—permanently.
It may not be a good choice for pregnant or nursing women either. The National Institutes of Health reports the active ingredient
in Latisse is associated with low birth weights and miscarriage in studies on mice and rats. While studies on lab animals
doesn't always mean that humans will have the same results, there haven't been any good clinical studies on humans
to date. Right now we just don’t know whether Latisse is safe for pregnant women or not. Brava
breast enhancement Why have it: Brava, introduced in 1999 is a breast enhancement system that claims
to help make breasts an entire cup size larger without surgery.
The problem: According to clinical trials,
Brava works, but the process is time consuming and full of side effects. The results are also less dramatic than surgical
implants. How does it work? Brava is a set of plastic domes hooked up to a small vacuum pump. The domes are placed over the
breasts, with the suction turned on, for 10 hours every day over at least a 10 week period. If you miss a day, you have to
add an extra one. Contra-indications are that some women report getting rashes and blisters from the long process. The good
news is that women who use Brava do, on average, do gain a cup size. But it doesn't work as well on women who have extremely
small breasts, or for those who have a low body-mass index. Some women have also been disappointed with the final results
because temporary swelling can initially make it appear that Brava is working better than it really is. That means your final
results won‘t match your initial results.
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