Look 10 Years Younger -- Without Surgery

Minimally-invasive procedures to turn back the clock.

Youthful Appearance

However we phrase it, we all want to do it: defy aging, look younger, find the fountain of youth. But how many of us actually take the plunge and do something about it? The numbers are surprisingly high: Last year, 7 million Americans spent over $2 billion on minimally invasive age-erasing procedures. That's a 43 percent jump in the number of patients just since 2002. Seventy-two percent of them were between the ages of 35 and 64; 13 percent were men, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. And almost 2 million of us took it a step further, going under the knife for procedures like face-lifts.

Why are we so obsessed with reversing the signs of aging? Blame television, or technology: Thanks to the fictional characters on "Nip/Tuck" and the real-life patients on "Miami Slice," "Dr. 90210," and makeover shows like "The Swan," we're getting an up-close peek at the process. And looking younger is looking a whole lot easier.

Ongoing breakthroughs in the anti-aging industry have made turning back the hands of time easy, inexpensive and relatively painless. "Unlike the past, curbing the progression of aging doesn't have to involve great physical and financial expense," says David Goldberg, MD, a dermatologist at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.

Today, a flood of products and procedures can prevent and slow the signs of aging with little or no discomfort or downtime, and without breaking the bank. But be prepared for a lifetime of use, whether it's applying a topical cream every day or undergoing injections every 3 to 6 months. (See below for the 30-year cost) "Once you stop a treatment, you will go back to baseline," says Leslie Baumann, MD, chief of cosmetic dermatology at the University of Miami.

Though there's still no magic pill, potion or lotion that will completely atone for all past skin sins and erase signs of aging, we're getting nearer. Here, five surgery-free techniques that can deliver a youthful appearance:

Problem: Age spots, fine lines
Retinoids
Natural compounds derived from vitamin A, retinoids treat brown spots and superficial wrinkles. Studies have shown that topical creams containing the retinoids tretinoin and tazarotene are highly effective. When used regularly, they can reduce fine wrinkles and clear up mottled pigmentation and rough skin. "You'll see significant improvements in about three months," says Rhoda Narins, MD, president of the American Society for Dermatological Surgery.

How they work: Retinoids penetrate deep into skin where they stimulate cell division. This has two effects: repairing the top layer of skin and enhancing the production of collagen, a protein that makes skin supple and provides structure.

Before you begin:

• Prescription-strength retinoids are stronger, more effective and produce results faster than over-the-counter products, says Robert S. Stern, MD, a professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School. Common side effects include irritation, such as redness, flaking and skin sensitivity. Retin-A and Renova contain tretinoin, while tazarotene is found in Avage -- all require a prescription.
  
  
• Retinoids increase the penetration of UV radiation, so unless you use one that contains SPF 15 or higher, wearing a daily sunscreen with UV blockers is more important than ever.

Price: OTC versions like RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 or Neutrogena Skin Transforming Complex Daily SPF 15 Moisturizer cost $20 to $24 for a one-month supply, while prescriptions cost $25 to $75 for a month's supply.

Problem: Deep wrinkles (crow's-feet, frown lines)
Botox
In 2003, Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox) was the No. 1 minimally invasive procedure in the country, with over 2.8 million injections -- about 12 percent of those were for men. There's little wonder: Botox can make some people look up to ten years younger. "Softening deep vertical frown lines is a powerful signal of rejuvenation," says Jean Carruthers, MD, an ophthalmologist turned cosmetic surgeon, who 17 years ago recognized the cosmetic benefits of Botox, which was originally used to treat eye twitching.

How it works: Made from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, Botox interrupts the connection between nerve and muscle, causing the surface area -- frown and forehead lines, crow's-feet and neck creases -- to relax.

Before you begin:

• Choose only an experienced dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Find one at botoxcosmetic.com.
  
  
• The first treatment lasts three to four months. After several sessions, results may last up to six months.
  
  
• The most common side effect is bruising or pain caused by the injection, says Carruthers. But in a recent unpublished study of 853 treatments, 99 percent were side effect-free.

Price: On average, $400 for each area of the face and neck treated.

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