Why Wait To Have Work Done?

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday December 10, 2008

LISA WACHSMUTH

Today, women are opting for some "cosmetic enhancement" at a younger age, reports LISA WACHSMUTH. And the economic downturn hasn't stopped them either.

It used to be you'd wait till your fifties or older to have "work" done; now women in their twenties are having a spot of cosmetic enhancement.

And while in the past you'd need to take a break from your job to hide the tell-tale signs, today's women are getting their crows feet ironed out, their lips plumped and their "turkey neck" minimised in their lunch hours.

Welcome to modern-day cosmetic procedures which are booming despite the economic downturn, according to one Wollongong clinic manager.

"The downturn hasn't affected the beauty industry - people are always going to want to look their best," says Susan Blanchard of Avana Cosmetic and Laser Clinic.

There has been a backlash against the "Hollywood look" however. Blanchard says clients these days are going for a more subtle change rather than the over-the-top look sported by many celebrities.

"People don't want to have that frozen look that a lot of Hollywood stars sport," she says. "And they don't want that trout pout either."

Botox, a drug prepared from botulin, is one of the Globe Lane's most popular treatments.

Though it has its detractors Blanchard says it has been used for more than 20 years to treat a variety of medical conditions.

"Ten years ago, when Avana was established in Sydney, most clients were aged 30 or above," she says. "These days we have a large proportion of clients in their early twenties who are using Botox as a preventative measure.

"Botox causes temporary relaxation in any muscle it is injected into and stops the muscle from contracting, leaving the overlapping skin smooth and unwrinkled. The younger you start, the less lines and wrinkles you will get as you get older."

It's not a one-off process though. Blanchard says in the first year of use, clients need to have a Botox treatment every three or four months, and they can extend the gaps slightly after that.

A doctor or nurse gives the Botox injections which start to work two to three days afterwards, reaching their full effect within seven to 14 days.

It costs $15 a unit, and though everyone needs a different amount, it averages around 8-12 units ($120-180) for crows feet, 10-16 units for forehead lines, 20-24 units for frown lines and four units for an eyebrow lift.

Botox is mainly used for the eye and forehead area, although it can be used to get rid of the dreaded turkey neck and soften "smoker's lines" around the lips.

"We advise clients to go for a more natural look which just means not using too much Botox and not using it too often," Blanchard says.

Dermal fillers are another popular cosmetic treatment at the salon. These are used mainly to enlarge and reshape the lips, for lines and wrinkles around the nose and mouth and for depressed scars.

"A lot of salons use Restylane, we use Juvederm. Both use hyaluronic acid, we just find that Juvederm lasts longer - from eight to 12 months," Blanchard says.

"Most clients experience swelling for a couple of days, especially if the lips have been treated. It's great for people who have uneven lips, but again we don't overdo it." It costs about $600 to do the lips.

For those not keen on injections, there are a number of other methods available to rejuvenate skin and even out lines and wrinkles, though the results may not be as dramatic. Skin can be a bit red after treatment, but water-based or mineral make-up can cover it up.

At the Wollongong salon, microdermabrasion, peels and the GentleLASE laser system are also offered. Complementary products and treatments are recommended, such as the Skinstitut brand which includes synthetic snake venom.

"When snakes inject venom into their prey it paralyses their muscles, in this way synthetic snake venom relaxes lines and wrinkles," Blanchard says.

The majority of salon's clients are women who just "don't want to look old," says Blanchard.

She advises them not to expect too much though. "We offer realistic results - we tell our clients the truth about the outcomes they will enjoy. We educate them about the products, the treatments and the fact that the problem with their skin is often caused by what they're doing internally - eg eating the wrong foods or drinking or smoking too much."

She says people should keep in mind that there are risks involved with any cosmetic procedure and salons should discuss these with their clients.