Med Spa Treatments - From A to Z

At a loss about which med spa treatment, or cosmetic medical procedure, is right for you? From Artecoll to Smart Lipo to Wrinkle Peels, this list should help...

A is for Artecoll. A dermal filler that claims to be "permanent" as the results last five years or more. Can be used to plump out facial wrinkles in particular and, occasionally, in the lips - although it's not recommended as the result can be disastrous! Make sure you have an allergy test before having this treatment - and the jury is still out about whether it is 100 percent safe.

B is for Botox. This FDA-approved injectable med spa treatment is made from a Botulinum Toxin A, a bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It works by either making us have chronic diarrhea, or paralyzing the muscles that can cause us to frown and make other wrinkles appear. Amazingly, it can also do wonders for migraines, excessive seating and even incontinence!

C is for Cellulite Treatments. Cellulite is just plain old fat, and the best way to get rid of it is through diet and exercise. If that fails, liposuction is one way to stop that orange peel look from taking over, as well as less invasive treatments such as LipoSolve, Smart Lipo and others. Many potions and lotions also claim to work, as well as procedures such as Lipomassage, Velasmooth and a host of rivals.

D is for Dermaplaning. A rather extreme method to get rid of acne scars and other skin problems by having someone scrape the skin off your face with a scalpel. Some people swear by it, others say it's a bit too brutal. You be the judge.

E is for Elite-Lipo Dissolve. A fat-busting treatment designed to get rid of lard in problem areas, such as love handles. You will have a series of injections to melt the fat away, along with attendant pain and discomfort. Stubborn areas usually respond well.

F is for Foot Implants (no, really). Wanna dance all night? Make the pain of high heels a thing of the past by having a filler injected into the soles of your feet. Try Perlane, Restylane or collagen - incredibly painful while you're having the injection, but isn't that what beauty's all about?

G is for Goretex. While it may sound like a brand of waterproof material, this is used as an non-toxic implant to plump out deep laugh lines, wrinkles and lips. As the body doesn't reject this substance, results are longer lasting than with other fillers. Also, because it's flexible with microscopic pores, it's has a low predisposition toward tearing.

H is for Hair Transplant."Donor" hair from the back or sides of your scalp are placed in the areas of your head where there is no hair, or where it is very thin. The idea is to have new hair grow in places where it has stopped growing. Painful and has limited results for most people.

I is for IPL Photofacial (Intense Pulsed Light). Combat the signs of aging - and the redness of rosacea - with light energy which stimulates the production of collagen. You will need at least five to ten treatment for maximum effect.

J is for Juvederm. Another filler for lips, face and other body parts. The beauty part, however, is that 80 of the Juvederm injected is safely reabsorbed by the body and eventually disappears, while 20 percent stays in the tissues. Lasts longer than Restylane as well - up to a year.

K is for Keratin used in Brazilian Hair Straightening. Using Keratin, this system is touted as being kinder to hair than other types of "permanent hair straightening" systems. Compared to the YUKO system, it is cheaper, takes less time, and wears away gradually. The downside is it only lasts up to four months. Play it safe by making sure your salon uses a cocktail without formaldehyde.

L is for Laser Hair Removal. Make unwanted hair a thing of the past with this treatment, which will make hair disappear almost permanently after time. The hair is zapped with light from a laser, which disables the hair follicles and stops the hair from growing. Nifty, huh?

M is for Male Waxing. Better, faster and more long-lasting than plucking or tweezing, hair waxing for men is becoming more and more popular. Give your hairy back a break or sample a hair-free chest for yourself - waxing isn't just for women anymore!

N is for Natural Body Contouring. Give yourself an overhaul with laser therapy to zap cellulite - before it zaps you. Non-invasive with long-lasting results, it purportedly works by changing the shape of the fat cells in your body and remodeling the connective tissue underneath.

O is for Obagi Facial. Cleanse your skin - and turn it blue - with this unique facial using Obagi skincare products. The Blue Peel chemical peel reveals fresher skin in just a week, after the old layers of skin have peeled away. Can also be done on other parts of the body such as the chest, hands and neck.

P is for Power Peel. A way to polish your face through the sanding technique of Microderm, or microdermabrasion. An alternative to a chemical peel, it can help get rid of wrinkles, acne scars, age spots and discoloration on the face.

Q is for Q-Med. Impress your cosmetic practitioner by knowing a bit about Q-Med, the medical company that makes medical implants, including Restylane (see below). Headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden, it also makes the injectable gel Macrolane, which is slowly gaining popularity as an "instant" breast enhancer, although it's not yet approved for sales in the US.

R is for Restylane. A dermal filler manufactured in Sweden, this popular filler can make skinny lips a thing of the past, and can plump up fine lines and wrinkles. It contains hyaluronic acid, which occurs naturally in the body to create volume. Once injected, it works with the hyaluronic acid already present in the body to create even more volume. Dissolves naturally, and can last least six months or more.

S is for Smart Lipo. An alternative to traditional liposuction, this revolutionary new technique involves making fat "melt" away by using a special laser that zaps problem areas. Is cheaper and has less down time that conventional lipo, but you may have lumpy and bumpy results.

T is for Thread Lift. Also known as a "lunchtime face lift", this med spa procedure involves making special sutures, using a barbed thread, to lift and therefore reposition the sagging parts of the face, such as the jowls. Cheaper and less invasive than a full face lift, but will have to be redone within a few years to keep up the look.

U is for Ugly Scar and Stretchmark Removal. Four main ways exist to get rid of scarring and stretch marks: chemical peel, dermabrasion, laser surgery and full excision. Remember that having realistic expectations is key: your skin will never revert to its pre-adolescent state, so don't expect too much!

V is for Vein Therapy. A popular way to get rid of thread veins by injecting a special solution directly into them, causing the lining of the vessel to become irritated. It then begins to swell and stick together, making the vein close. As a result blood can no longer flow through it, so the red or blue colour disappears.

W is for Wrinkle Peel. Make old layers of facial skin peel off with a special solution of acid, as the top layers are the ones most likely to wrinkle. Sounds tempting? Remember that a wrinkle peel can take up to a month to recover from, with risks including infection, scarring, permanent skin lightening and inflammation of the skin.

X is for X-ray. Keep healthy by knowing exactly how your internal health is doing. Some med spas offer X-ray absorptiometry scans, which can check your BMI, or Body Mass Index, as well as your bone density, before you have a treatment. Good to know before following any diet plan - or having lipo!

Y is for Youthful Skin. Skin rejuvenation treatments are perhaps the most sought after procedures offered in med spas today, as virtually everyone wants to look - and - feel younger. Don't forget, however, that exercise and proper diet go a long way to a healthier new you.

Z is for Zinc. Try this and ditch the skin rejuvenation treatments, as prevention is often better than cure. Keep yourself looking younger by religiously applying sunscreen containing zinc oxide, which acts as a barrier against the sun's harmful rays - and is also used as a barrier cream for babies with diaper rash!

Sarah Matthews is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Healer at Yodle Local or more Health & Medicine articles at Yodle Consumer Guide.

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